While AI is becoming more popular, it isn’t replacing every job. For example, strategic thinking and thought leadership in Human Resources is a skill that is beyond the capabilities of robots.
Similarly, interpersonal conflict resolution and negotiation can only be performed by humans. Nonetheless, many jobs are being replaced by AI.
Self-driving cars
Theoretically, self-driving cars are much safer than human drivers, eliminating major accident causes such as poor driving skills, distraction, lack of sleep and fatigue. Driverless car software uses sensors, such as radar and lasers, high-powered cameras and GPS to construct an internal map of the vehicle’s surroundings. This allows the software to determine its location, follow traffic rules and navigate obstacles.
Autonomous cars also reduce harmful emissions. A study by Ohio University found that a reduction in road accidents could decrease vehicle-related carbon dioxide by up to 90%. Additionally, self-driving cars can communicate with each other to improve traffic flow and increase roadway capacity. This would eliminate traffic jams and allow for shorter routes. Autonomous vehicles can also transport people with physical disabilities or who are unable to drive safely. This would create new opportunities for those with limited mobility and close the aging gap.
Robotics
From factory automation and warehouse management, to chatbots and customer support, AI is taking over repetitive tasks. This reduces the need for human intervention and frees workers to focus on more critical tasks. The Neuron course can improve your performance in using AI to reduce your load.
AI is also transforming the world of business with recommendation algorithms that personalize content, ads and recommendations. It also allows companies to cut costs by automating repetitive processes and reducing labor-intensive, high-volume cognitive work.
E-commerce companies use AI to identify and filter out fake reviews and credit card fraud. Financial services companies use it to improve customer satisfaction and reduce their costs by automating data analysis, reducing loan application processing time, identifying potential fraud, and improving customer service.
Astronomy
Astronomy is the scientific study of celestial objects and the phenomena that occur in space. It encompasses a wide range of subjects, including stars, planets, nebulae, galaxies, cosmic microwave background radiation, and more.
Astronomers have long sought to understand the universe around us through careful observations of the sky, but they also create new technology and methods that benefit society in many ways. For example, a technique called aperture synthesis allows telescopes to use multiple smaller mirrors combined with a single large one to create the equivalent of an extremely powerful telescope.
Astronomers’ work also provides new navigation tools like GPS and star maps. In addition, the programming language FORTH created for the Kitt Peak 36-foot telescope gave rise to the successful computer company Forth Inc., and astronomy-derived technologies like X-ray telescopes are used in airport baggage scanners.
Robotics in Medicine
Robots are taking big leaps into healthcare, helping to sterilize hospital rooms and dispense medications. They can also help patients regain mobility and strength after surgeries and injuries.
For example, robotic exoskeletons are being used to help people who have been paralyzed walk again. And surgical robots allow surgeons to operate with much more precision. They split the task of aligning instruments and drilling into two steps, freeing up a surgeon’s hands so they can perform a surgery faster.
Hospital-acquired infections can be reduced by using robots to clean rooms and ensure they are sanitized properly. And antibacterial nanorobots could target bacteria directly, preventing infections without damaging healthy cells. Robots can also help analyze medical imaging and identify disease outbreaks with up to 85% accuracy. This can prevent outbreaks in the future and save lives. Moreover, telemedicine is becoming more common thanks to robots that help patients remotely take vitals and communicate with doctors.
Robotics in Education
Education is one of the primary fields where AI has had a major impact. AI-powered platforms personalize education, improve engagement, and help students learn at their own pace. AI also democratizes education by making it accessible to a wider audience.
Robotics can pique students’ interest and engage them with their future by turning the classroom into a hive of exploration and innovation. Through practical activities, students develop critical thinking skills and apply logic. They also work on fine motor skills and spark creativity in the classroom.
Furthermore, educational robots encourage the development of cognitive skills such as computational thinking. This is the mental process that helps children analyze problems, find solutions, and adapt to new situations. They also learn to accept failure and develop a pro-active spirit. In addition, educational robotics enables them to build a strong connection between academic lessons and real-world contexts.
Robotics in Healthcare
AI is helping to improve healthcare in a variety of ways. Telepresence robots allow doctors to check in on patients remotely; surgical robots assist surgeons during procedures; rehabilitation robots help disabled patients regain movement; and sanitation robots keep hospitals clean.
Medical diagnostics, meanwhile, are being improved by medical robots that can draw blood and perform lab tests. This could free up human nurses to focus on tasks that require their decision-making skills and empathy.
Most studies of robots in healthcare have focused on two environments: the surgical theater and the rehabilitation unit. However, there are also hospital robots for sanitization, pharmacy and patient assistance and companionship. There are even robots to help people with disabilities take a shower. This is a very impressive and beneficial application of AI technology. Many of these systems are designed to operate behind-the-scenes, improving processes without the end user even noticing.
Robotics in Transportation
In highway construction and maintenance, robots improve project efficiency, worker safety, and informed decision-making based on data-driven insights. Efficient traffic management reduces travel time, congestion, and fuel consumption while lowering carbon emissions.
Physical and software robots help improve logistics efficiency, especially for freight transportation. Truck platooning, for instance, networks HGVs to optimize routes and decrease travel costs and energy consumption.
Other logistical applications of AI include automated customer service, finding patterns in data to predict future demand, and fighting credit card fraud. Robots also provide valuable insights for retail and eCommerce, such as providing personalized recommendations and improving product placement. Moreover, warehouses use robotic systems to optimize inventory and enhance security. They are particularly useful for identifying and addressing problems such as low stock levels or misplaced items. They also help increase productivity among employees. Additionally, they make a huge impact in reducing the cost of products and services.
Robotics in Retail
Retailers are using robots to automate tasks that require low cognitive and emotional complexity, enabling human staff to focus on higher-value and more complex customer interactions. Physical robots like Pepper, an AI-enhanced humanoid, can be preprogrammed to chat with customers and answer their questions (SoftBank Robotics, 2022). Meanwhile, autonomous robots like Tally (deployed by Meijer) and Brain Corp’s Whiz scan store shelves to spot missing or mispriced items, helping retailers avoid lost sales due to out-of-stock items that erode customer loyalty.
Retailers are also deploying robotics for curbside pickup of online orders, which can reduce labor costs and eliminate the need for employees to navigate parking lots in harsh weather. However, these automated delivery robots must perform a difficult task: they must learn to recognize the specific items that each customer will order. This raises several ethical and privacy concerns.
Robotics in Hospitality
The burgeoning trend of robotics in hospitality industry offers significant prospects of improved services, efficiency and cost saving. With an anticipated penetration rate of 87%, robots are reshaping the hospitality landscape as a powerful tool for enhancing customer service.
As robots do not get tired, they can perform tasks 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without breaking down. This means that they can support surgical procedures close to delicate organs or tissue, mitigating the risk of blood loss or infection.
Future hospitality and tourism professionals must adjust to this new reality, so the time for integrating the use of robotics in higher education is now. This could include introducing robots in practical classes and exposing students to real-world situations requiring the use of robotic technologies. In addition, this will allow them to develop a better understanding of the impact and implications of automation on human work.
Robotics in Entertainment
(1952) Arthur Samuel develops a self-playing checkers program. (1954) Georgetown-IBM machine translation system is created. (1956) Allen Newell and Herbert Simon develop the logic programming language PROLOG.
The emergence of intelligent automation and AI has allowed enterprises to streamline their operations and scale up their business strategies with relative ease. However, many organizations are still dipping their toes into the water rather than jumping in headfirst.
Entertainment robots offer engaging interactive experiences, fostering connection and engagement among users. They often introduce users to the concepts of robotics, artificial intelligence, and programming in an accessible and enjoyable way, promoting technological literacy. The use of robotics in entertainment also helps to create immersive and futuristic experiences, encouraging curiosity and exploration. Some examples include the use of robots in amusement parks which will continue to expand; specialized cameras used on movie sets for special effects; and fully robotic rock bands.