Robohub.org
 

What happens to society when robots replace workers? | Harvard Business Review


by
20 December 2014



share this:

“The technologies of the past, by replacing human muscle, increased the value of human effort – and in the process drove rapid economic progress. Those of the future, by substituting for man’s senses and brain, will accelerate that process – but at the risk of creating millions of citizens who are simply unable to contribute economically, and with greater damage to an already declining middle class.”

Source: hbr.org

The final paragraph: “Ultimately, we need a new, individualized, cultural, approach to the meaning of work and the purpose of life. Otherwise, people will  find a solution – human beings always do – but it may not be the one for which we began this technological revolution.”

See on Scoop.it – Cultibotics




John Payne

            AUAI is supported by:



Subscribe to Robohub newsletter on substack



Related posts :

Robots in society, business and culture: October 2026

We showcase a selection of robotics stories from society, business, research and culture.

Muscle coordination can be mimicked by electric motors – it could lead to improved robots

  02 Nov 2026
Researchers built a physical model using ordinary electric motors to try and simulate how muscles may perform tasks.

Robot Talk Episode 168 – Advancing robotics with novel electronics, with Zlatka Stoeva

  30 Oct 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Zlatka Stoeva from DZP Technologies about flexible, stretchable and soft printed electronics for dexterous robots.

Competing in RoboCup@Home and winning the 2026 best paper award: an interview with Raphael Memmesheimer

and   28 Oct 2026
Hear more about Raphael's research and his involvement in the RoboCup@Home league.

Robots in society, business and culture: September 2026

We showcase a selection of robotics stories from society, business, research and culture.

Robot Talk Episode 167 – Automating construction, with Jan Petrš

  23 Oct 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Jan Petrš from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne about novel robot designs for construction and architecture.

ACM SIGAI Autonomous Agents Award 2027 open for nominations

  20 Oct 2026
Nominations are solicited for the 2027 ACM SIGAI Autonomous Agents Research Award.

Powered by muscle cells, a paper-thin robot swims through watery maze

  19 Oct 2026
MIT engineers’ new aquabot offers a way to design small, efficient “biohybrid” robots.


↑


AUAI is supported by:







Subscribe to Robohub newsletter on substack




 















©2026.05 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence