Written by:
Eelaththu Nilavan
✦. Are Robots Becoming Sentient?
Current AI systems exhibit impressive capabilities—natural language generation, decision-making, and physical autonomy—but they lack true consciousness or moral agency. Recent papers argue that while AI agents can make complex decisions, they remain bound by predefined objectives and lack genuine self-reflection or moral patiency . A growing school of thought suggests that the next phase should emphasize collaborative human–agent systems, where AI augments rather than replaces human judgment, offering greater trustworthiness and adaptability .
✦. The Workforce Revolution: Robots in the Job Market
Disruption & Redistribution
AI has reshaped labor markets by automating tasks—not entire professions—especially in compliance-heavy or routine roles. For instance, AI contributed to declines in checkout operators, personal assistants, bank clerks, and management consultants from 2019–2025 . By contrast, industries open to AI exposure saw revenue per employee grow faster—from 9% up to 27% in sectors like finance and software .
Job Creation & Productivity Gains
Contrary to fears of mass unemployment, new roles are emerging. AI‑exposed occupations grew by 38% between 2019–2024, and workers with AI skills earned around a 56% wage premium in 2024—double that of 2023 . The World Economic Forum projects that by 2030, 170 million new jobs will be created globally—even as 92 million roles are displaced .
Reskilling and Human Capital
Firms increasingly prioritize reskilling: by 2030, more than 85–87% of employers plan to train employees on AI‑related skills, while hiring will shift from degree-based to experience-based evaluation . Upskilling becomes essential for navigating evolving tasks—not to replace humans, but to enhance their contributions.
✦. Where Are Robots Already Working?
◉ AI‑enabled robots are now pervasive:
Industry & logistics: 16 million service robots are active globally, with 57% AI‑enabled—as many as 2.6 million new jobs created around robotics industries by 2025 .
Healthcare: Surgical robots, logistics bots, telepresence devices, and cleaning systems are filling gaps amid staffing shortages, with hospital administrators earmarking $60 million in robotic investments and surveys indicating 70% plan further expansion .
Retail, hospitality, and food service: Robots act as waitstaff, shelf scanners, fryers, and room-service providers—bringing efficiency and safety, such as a 17% reduction in injuries in industrial environments .
✦. Broader Impacts on Work & Society
Robots can shift work away from dangerous or monotonous tasks, but may also reduce meaningful work for low-skilled roles. A study across European industries showed that increased robot density could reduce perceptions of autonomy by 7.5% and meaningfulness by nearly 7% .
✦. Future Scenarios: Autonomy, Ethics, Governance
Thought leaders like Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis expect AGI within five to ten years—a milestone that could help tackle global challenges, but also introduces risks if sophistication outpaces safety frameworks . Research in AI agent economics underscores the balance needed between autonomy and accountability, highlighting risks like diluted responsibility in complex agent networks .
Meanwhile, the International AI Safety Report (January 2025) convened experts from 30 nations to assess and mitigate risks from general-purpose AI, emphasizing global coordination and regulatory preparedness .
✦. Human-Centered Design for AI & Robotics
The concept of Human‑Centered AI advocates that technology should augment human values and flourishing—not replace them . AI developer Conscium, based in London, researches AI agent verification and artificial consciousness thresholds, aiming to ensure trust and alignment as robots become more capable .
✦. What Lies Ahead for Humanity
Post-work society? Some experts argue that by 2045 most jobs could become obsolete, leaving only human-dependent roles like politics or ethical stewardship—though these are few in number, raising profound social challenges .
Collaborative intelligence may hold the key: rather than full autonomy, the preferred path is AI systems designed to enhance human problem-solving in domains like healthcare, education, and decision support .
Policy and education: proactive workforce development, social safety nets, and ethical AI governance will determine whether AI benefits are broadly shared or exacerbate inequality.
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Written By: Eelaththu Nilavan | 17/07/2025
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Amizhthu’s editorial stance.
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