While many people are fixated on artificial intelligence, behind it lies a powerful ally that leverages AI to make work easier—robots. For the longest time, robots were characters in fantasy films that could do mind-blowing things, which was amazing. But as we’ve come to see recently, we are slowly entering the era of real-life robots.
One of the earliest industries to venture into robotics was manufacturing. The inefficiencies of human labor were optimized by machines, making work much more efficient. Gradually, technology companies started playing with the idea of actual robots that could walk, jump, communicate and do much more.
You’ve probably seen videos on social media of robotic dogs from the well-known company Boston Dynamics that mimic the movements of real dogs, or seen the Optimus humanoid robots from Tesla.
While all these advancements are fascinating, it leaves the question: Can a robot replace you one day? Well, the answer is maybe, and for some people, the answer is a resounding yes, as it has already happened.
Food Delivery Robots
The next time you’re chilling at home and you order a quick snack or meal, don’t be surprised if a robot shows up on your doorstep with your delivery. It might sound creepy or exciting depending on your take on robots, but it’s actually happening.
Food delivery platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Just Eat are experimenting and partnering with autonomous sidewalk delivery companies to try out the concept. In the US, Uber Eats partnered with Serve Robotics and rolled out about 2,000 sidewalk robots to deliver food from more than 200 restaurants. Skip is another autonomous delivery company that launched the same concept in Ontario, Canada.
Most of the robots are rectangular in shape with cameras and sensors, and have wheels for mobility. They move on the sidewalks with spatial awareness and deliver your food right to your doorstep.
The concept seeks to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, which is a great milestone, but where does that leave the thousands or millions of people who depend on delivery platforms for their income?
Self-driving Cars
When self-driving cars hit the streets, they made headlines. The idea that all you needed to do was sit, relax, and enjoy your ride without holding the steering wheel, pressing buttons, or talking to a driver was indeed impressive.
Tesla is widely known for incorporating autonomous driving in some of their models, and users can sit back and wait as the car drives them to their destination. Beyond personal vehicles, self-driving cars have entered the ride-hailing industry.
The first company to do so was Waymo, owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet. It had its first fully autonomous commercial ride in 2018. Through their app, users can simply request a ride and a driverless car will come and pick them up. Recently, Tesla launched RoboTaxi, a company offering ride-hailing services with self-driving cars.
However, this technology comes with a concern from taxi drivers who wonder how they’ll be integrated into all these. Top ride-hailing companies like Uber, Bolt and Lyft have empowered millions of drivers worldwide through their platforms who face a risk of unemployment due to self-driving cars.
Robot Casino Dealers
The gambling and casino industry has had a few major milestones over the years. One of them was the shift from physical to online, which was a huge breakthrough. After the launch of the internet, casino players could now enjoy their favorite games, whether slots, blackjack or poker, at any time and from anywhere. Casino online slots for real money were now accessible instantly.
Another milestone was the beginning of the smartphone era, which ushered in mobile casino apps, so as long as you had a phone, you could access a wide variety of games. Land-based casinos didn’t have much change other than getting bigger and fancier, until recently, when certain casino establishments started to experiment with robots.
Slowly, some casinos chose robots for security over the usual guards. Another surprise was having robots as bartenders, programmed to make any cocktail with perfection. So, the next time you visit a casino, check the bar counter to see who or what is making your favorite drink.
The biggest shocker, however, is seeing tech companies develop robotic dealers that shuffle and deal cards, and maintain the flow of the game. Some can even spin the roulette wheel and manage chips. Will the robots have the charm of human dealers and strike up conversations as well? The companies coming up with the technology say that the robots are more efficient, faster, fair and more accurate than dealers, which can be of great benefit to casinos.
A Reality or Over Hyped Technology?
The truth of the matter is, robots and machines are slowly replacing humans in many fields, even beyond those mentioned above. Ask a taxi driver about self-driving cars or an Amazon store worker about the many robots in their warehouse, and they’ll paint a concerning picture for you.
If the argument is only about efficiency and optimization, then for sure, robots are way better than humans, since they don’t get tired or sick. But if a connection is what we are looking for, then having a chat with a fellow human driver as they take you to your destination will lighten up your day. Or having that human dealer with a striking personality is what makes the casino game fun. In the end, we’ll have to choose whether we value an authentic connection or efficiency in all that we do.
