Before Taking Over Jobs Entirely, Robots Are Likely To First Be Co-Workers

Job-sharing takes on a new meaning. And by extension, 'going postal' could involve a sledge hammer rather than a gun. JL

Elizabeth Dwoskin reports in the Wall Street Journal:

The question for companies now isn’t how to replace workers with machines, but how to integrate machines into the workforce. Managing a staff that’s part human, part robot will take getting used to.
Before a robot takes your job, you’re likely to be working with one side-by-side. That’s the takeaway from a new report by Forrester Research Inc. examining to what extent robots will take over human jobs.
Looking at workforces at large companies like Delta Airlines, Whole Foods Market, and Lowe’s Companies, as well as at startups, analyst J.P. Gownder estimated automation would erase 22.7 million U.S. jobs by 2025, or 16% of today’s total. New jobs would offset the decline a bit, for a net loss of 7%, or 9.1 million jobs.
For every 10 jobs consumed by automation, one new job would be created in software, engineering, design, maintenance, support or training. People whose jobs were replaced by robots could end up working in robot repair.
Changes are already evident, the report found. Robots deliver room service to guests at Aloft hotels. Kiosks take orders at Schlotzsky’s Deli in Austin, Texas. Lowe’s stores are testing Oshbot, a robotic sales assistant that answers questions, shows a map of the store, or leads customers directly to products they seek.
The question for companies now isn’t how to replace workers with machines, but how to integrate machines into the workforce. Managing a staff that’s part human, part robot will take getting used to. “Companies will need to lobby governments to fund education and vocational training to provide people with the skills to work well with robots,” the report said.