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Anthony Lott
Professor Jizi
UWRT 1102-009
29 April 2016
An Exploratory Essay: Automation in the Workplace
My curiosity into automation was sparked from the idea that maybe one day our daily
jobs will be surpassed by the advancements in technology. What is automation anyway?
Basically, automation is when a machine, robot, or computerized system takes over an
occupation. Just have a seat in your local Chilis and youll experience automation first hand.
You can now order and pay directly from a tablet placed at every dining booth, thus resulting in
less human interaction needed. I myself was just dining in at Olive Garden where I experienced
such a phenomenon first hand. I thought to myself, stuffing my face with breadsticks, this waiter
could one day become obsolete. Her job is to take orders and deliver food, both of which can be
accomplished by a robot. Would her job still exist five years from now?
So why would I care if some random waiter lost her job to robotics? The reason is that I
am concerned about which career path to follow, for I do not want to compete with a machine. I
want to ensure that the occupation I chose today will still be relevant decades from now. When I
think about it, a lot of jobs could easily be taken over by a machine of some sort. When
automation comes to mind, I immediately think of enormous manufacturing firms with their
expensive robotics, yet it becomes apparent that automation is creeping into other job segments
as exemplified by my encounter at Olive Garden. Picture more instances of automation in
untouched careers; a loss of jobs and a scene of turmoil could be the consequence. These are the
problems we could face as our technology becomes faster, smarter, and more versatile with each

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passing year. Could there be any positive results from automation? I must explore the entirety of
automation to draw any conclusions.
As stated previously, the idea of automation could completely destroy an industry, but
why would a corporation adopt such a malicious policy? Look no further than what has been
apparent in our society lately. I hear it all the time from friends and family; people are
demanding that the minimum wage be increased so that they can sustain a normal and enjoyable
life. One prominent sector undergoing such controversy is the fast food industry (OToole). As
the demand for a higher minimum wage continues, so will the companies interests in robotics to
replace those workers (OToole). I would enjoy my fast food being served to me by a
nonjudgmental robot that doesnt complain every time I place a complicated order. On the other
hand, I have a sense of empathy towards those that would be impacted by such an application.
According to a recent study by the University of Oxford, there is a 92% chance that your
delicious fast food will be served by a robot in the next few decades (OToole). Darren Tristano,
a food industry expert, states the result of automation on the fast food industry alone would result
in a drop of five to ten percent in work force (OToole). So it seems my waiter at Olive Garden
might want to reconsider a different field of occupation.
With the possibility of the fast food industry being completely obliterated by automation,
you would figure the public be a little concerned. A poll conducted by CNBC in 2015 revealed
that only five percent were very concerned and another eight percent were somewhat
concerned (Weldon). This made me wonder if the American public is truly informed on the
extent that automation can reach. I myself have a distinct fear that robotics could sabotage my
career plans and was truly surprised by the lack of concern emitted from the American public.
Further polling revealed that most people (55%) believe that the advancement in technology will

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yield more benefits than drawbacks according to a 2015 CNBC poll (Weldon). So with such little
fear and much optimism from the American public, are their views justifiable?
To investigate the public opinion in terms of automation, let me start by exploring
beneficial applications of automation. One important field to study is the ever improving medical
industry. Various institutes and companies are exploring the use of robotics in medical rooms
across America (Fwthinking). One system in the works is called the daVinciSi Surgical System
in which a surgeons motions are mimicked by a machine and unintentional movements are
blocked out by the robot (Fwthinking). The University of Washington is also investing its time to
further improve surgeries with other mechanically assisted robotics (Fwthinking). To me this
sounds all fine and dandy, but of course one may perceive these advancements to have negative
side effects. I do believe the benefit of more precise and safer healthcare practices outweighs the
negatives brought on by automation. A robotic surgeon may sound intimidating at first, yet I
would much rather have a multimillion dollar machine operate on me than a surgeon who is
more prone to failure.
There are various other applications of automation that equivocate to great benefits. The
use of autonomous vehicles could help those with disabilities have a reliable way of obtaining
their medication fast and efficiently (Dietsch 8). Of course these applications are all positive in
terms of the consumer, but I want to study the effects of the population as a whole. Autonomous
vehicles sound awesome from a consumers perspective. Imagine how much more safer and
efficient self-driving vehicles could be! Thinking from a workers perspective, however;
autonomous vehicles sound disastrous. Envision the number of jobs impacted by autonomous
vehicles: truck drivers, taxi drivers, delivery drivers, all of these jobs would likely succumb to
automation resulting in job loss. Drones could even undermine delivery methods with the need

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for little human interaction (OToole). The point Im trying to construct is that automation can be
both good and bad depending on the viewpoint. For example, automated tractors will result in
less waste produced by the agriculture sector (Dietsch 9). Sounds like a rock solid advantage
until you look at this scenario from the farmers angle. Sad to think that even a farmer has the
ability to become obsolete. What do robotics experts have to say about the future of automation?
They state that with the help of MIT and other technical institutes, they are making it
easier and more affordable to access the education needed to adapt to the changing economy
brought on by robotics (Dietsch 9). So then maybe the job market in the coming years will be
entirely centered on engineering, but what if an individual like myself doesnt want to follow
such a path? Even so, I may not have the expertise in the robotics sector resulting in
unemployment. In the worst possible scenario, I can find shelter in an occupation that involves
creativity and personality. A robot could never take on the role of being creative, right?
If a robot has the ability to think creatively and complete unfixed tasks, the human is
obsolete in my opinion. We are thinking well into the future, yet that future is drawing ever so
close. To uncover the future of automation, I must investigate an interview conducted by
Eugenio Gugliemelli. Gugliemelli askes various questions surrounding the future of automation
to the executive director of the Georgia Tech Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines,
Henrik I. Christensen. Christensen states that automation is moving from fixed procedures to
more flexible operations (Guglielmelli 120). Christensen, according to my interpretation, is
hinting that the advancement in technology and robotics will allow for more applications outside
of manufacturing and basic tasks. Could this mean that creativity could be achieved by robotics?
Although I couldnt make any immediate conclusions, I wouldnt be surprised if robotics took on
creativity. For now, additional work is being done to automate programming, yes you heard

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correctly, programming (Guglielmelli 117). Here we see an example of a creative art that has the
ability to be overtaken by the realm of automation. I wonder which job market is next to be
submerged in the world of automation.
After exploring automation, I am left with more questions than answers. These questions
seem to be impossible to answer because technology and its policies are always changing. One
thing is for certain, further automation will result in job loss in certain sectors of the job market.
The question remains, will the unemployed adapt by engaging in jobs around automation, or will
we experience a recession caused by the greed for more money? We need to blame the consumer,
the worker, and the elites in corporate for the increase in automation, for it is a direct result from
self-indulgence. More inquiry would need to take root in possible advancements in robotics to
understand exactly which careers are to be affected by automation. I have only scratched the
surface of an ever evolving topic that has the ability to turn our society into a stagnant
population.

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Works Cited
Dietsch, J. "News and Views: Merry Christmas to the Economy, from the Robotics and
Automation Community." Ieee Robotics and Automation Magazine. 18.4 (2011): 8-9.
Print.
Fwthinking. "Robot Surgeons Are the Future of Medicine." YouTube. YouTube, 02 Apr. 2014.
Web. 25 Mar. 2016.
Guglielmelli, E. "The Future of Automation [turning Point]." Ieee Robotics and Automation
Magazine. 22.2 (2015): 120-117. Print.
O'Toole, James. "Robots Will Replace Fast-food Workers." CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 4
Sept. 2014. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.
Weldon, Kathleen. "Automation for the People: The Public, Technology and Jobs." The
Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 9 June 2015. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.