With the robot revolution on the rise, people are more uncertain about their employment than ever. Check out these 10 workplace automation statistics to better understand the impacts of the growing digital world.
1. The changing landscape of robotics and labor
According to a recent report by the World Economic Forum, workplace automation is expected to significantly impact 85 million jobs globally by 2025. The report highlights that humans will share work responsibilities almost equally with machines, with humans contributing 53% and machines 47%. This shift represents a significant change from just three years ago when humans completed 67% of the work.
Industries that are likely to be affected the most by automation include healthcare, transportation and agriculture. As a result, businesses need to adopt automation, digitization and other new technologies, while workers need to acquire new skills such as analytical thinking, creativity, social interaction and emotional intelligence.
This shift will lead to high demand for careers in data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI), content creation and cloud computing.
2. The rise of robot employees
As per the World Economic Forum, 80% of business executives plan to implement workplace automation to eliminate redundant work processes and integrate new technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend, with 50% of employers predicted to automate some roles within their organizations.
With the adoption of machines, AI hardware, and robots, businesses can increase profits by reducing the need for labor. Professionals of all backgrounds, from clerics to surgeons, will be affected.
The introduction of robots in manufacturing has already led to a reduction in wages and the employment-to-population ratio. As automation further expands into industries, the workforce will feel the impact more significantly.
3. Booming AI market
The global AI market, valued at $136.6 billion, is expected to grow to $1,811.8 billion by 2030. The market's compound annual growth rate (CAGR), currently at 38.1%, is also projected to rise with the development of new technology and more advanced AI software.
Many large corporations are making significant investments in AI firms to improve enterprise automation, productivity and quality. For instance, Microsoft recently acquired the highly successful AI firm Nuance Communications and announced plans to invest $1 billion in OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT.
Smaller businesses and retail companies are also contributing to the growth of the AI market by distributing numerous interactive kiosks in various sectors, such as healthcare, food and beverages, logistics and automotive.
4. VR and customer interaction
Virtual reality (VR) is expected to revolutionize how businesses interact with customers. As much as 65% of contact centers will incorporate VR technology by 2025. By providing an immersive and personalized experience, businesses can establish deeper connections with their customers. This connection can increase trust and loyalty, the driving force behind VR integration.
Many leading brands have already implemented VR to connect with buyers. For example, Ikea Place, a virtual furnishing placement tool, enables customers to visualize how products will look and function in their homes before committing.
5. Automated restaurants
Approximately 50% of restaurant operators plan to integrate workplace automation into their daily processes. This can include integrating chatbots to interact with customers and automating food preparation, ordering and payment, menu selection, reservation scheduling and chat responses on social media.
Moley Robotics has taken automation a step further by developing a robotic chef that imitates human movements. It can prepare, garnish and serve food and clean up after itself.
6. Robotic operations
Robotic technology is beginning to show its true potential in the medical field. Experts predict that surgical robots will significantly impact the job market, resulting in a 2% reduction in surgeon jobs from 2019 to 2029.
Robots are becoming commonplace in the medical field and taking on non-routine manual tasks. The Mayo Clinic reports that these machines offer superior precision, flexibility and control, allowing for complex procedures to be performed with greater accuracy.
The da Vinci Xi by Intuitive, for example, is a robotic machine that is faster and more precise than human hands. It uses AI to read a surgeon's hand movements and has the ability to take the place of human surgeons when unavailable.
7. Precise diagnoses
A study by Nature Medicine found that their model using a Google-developed AI algorithm can detect 5% more cancers and 11% more false positives than human radiologists. AI technology is improving in its ability to recognize images and detect even the slightest physiological changes.
This means that AI can help with more accurate diagnoses, especially in cases where traditional screening methods are not available or affordable.
8. Translation and content creation automation
The use of AI-powered translation technology is predicted to lead to a 20% reduction in translation and interpretation jobs between 2019 and 2029. Advances in machine learning and language processing have led to virtual assistants like Siri, Cortana and Alexa becoming widely accessible AI tools.
Automated text generation and translation tools, such as Google Translate and Grammarly, can proficiently perform writing and translation tasks. As a result, AI is accelerating content production and has become commonplace for writers, influencers and businesses.
9. The agricultural shift in meat production
Lab-grown meat produced by harvesting animal cells in a lab may account for one-third of all U.S. meat consumption by 2040. Although it is not yet available in the U.S., the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed lab-grown meat safe. This technology has the potential to disrupt the multi-billion-dollar cattle and plant-based food industries.
Supporters argue that lab-grown meat provides a cleaner and healthier alternative to traditional meat, as it can be produced with lower levels of fat and cholesterol and infused with organic supplements. However, the widespread adoption of lab-grown meat could significantly impact animal farming, potentially reducing the need for large-scale animal agriculture.
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10. Virtual fashion
Direct-to-avatar (D2A) strategies are becoming increasingly popular in the fashion and retail industries. This approach allows companies to sell virtual products to consumers, leading to a $190 billion market opportunity in virtual goods.
Consumers can use these virtual products to dress their avatars in open-world digital environments like the metaverse. High-end fashion brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton have already started developing exclusive outfits for avatars.
This new parallel economy has implications beyond gaming and fashion, as the metaverse is expected to become a global utility where users can work, learn, socialize and pursue entertainment options. Researchers predict that by 2026, a quarter of the world's population will spend at least one hour per day in the metaverse.