In recent years there has been a huge rise in automation technology, such as AI and IoT, with the use of robots having risen significantly between 2016 and 2017. According to Statista, a European research and statistics agency, the worldwide shipment of robots rose from 294,000 to 387,000 in just one year.
Alongside this big increase in industrial robot usage, many companies are also exploring robotics in our everyday lives too, with big data, cloud computing and automated technology being developed to make our lives easier at home.
In this article, we will explore how people in the UK feel about this rise of everyday robotics.
Where are robots being used?
Much of the rise in robot usage between 2016 and 2017 can be attributed to production lines and industry, but many companies have also introduced more AI technology into their services too.
Other companies including Amazon, Adidas, Best Buy and Lowes are also exploring how robotics and AI can be used beyond the construction line, with these four industry leaders having experimented with robotic warehousing.
As this tech continues to grow, many experts predict that robots will play a big part in assisting with various everyday tasks in the near future, varying from helping out with housework to performing minor surgeries!
But what is the public consensus on this potential development? RS Components has conducted their own research to explore how people feel about robots in the UK.
Divided opinion
As you might expect, there is very much a divided opinion amongst respondents, with 34% believing that robots will make everyday life better, while 32% expressed concern that robots will take over our lives instead.
Much of the distrust placed in robots was rooted in a fear of job loss, with 22% of those surveyed expressing such a concern. There was a much larger percentage who said they would trust a human over a robot (54%) than the other way round (14%), suggesting there is a general mistrust towards robotics.
The research also shows that women are more concerned about robotic technologies than men are, with 34% of female respondents worried that robots are taking over, compared to 29% of men. Similarly, only 32% of the women interviewed thought that robots will benefit everyday life, while 46% of men stated this belief.
In terms of age, amongst the younger respondents, there was both a greater level of trust in robots over humans, and a bigger fear of robots taking over everyday life than their older contemporaries.
Across the data, there were very few tasks that a large number of respondents were happy to let a robot perform. Only household chores received a large portion of the vote, with 40% of respondents in favour of letting robots help around the house.
All of this data suggests that Brits may be scared that robots will take over their lives, but as long as they do the dishes, then so be it…