One of the biggest employers in the US, Amazon, is getting ready for a significant change in the way it manages its warehouses. Roughly over the next ten years, the firm plans to replace roughly half a million jobs with robots, according to internal documents and interviews that The New York Times examined.
With about 1.2 million workers, Amazon’s U.S. workforce has grown quickly, but the company thinks technology might save it from adding more than 160,000 more people by 2027. It is anticipated that the business will save roughly 30 cents for each item it processes. According to executives, Amazon could handle twice as many products by 2033 with robotic systems without having to hire a lot more workers.
Amazon Planning to Deploy it in its Warehouses
In warehouses built for lightning-fast deliveries, where robots do the majority of the hard lifting, packing, and transferring of items, the company is exploring this strategy. As an illustration, Amazon’s Shreveport, Louisiana, warehouse is already using about 1,000 robots, which enables it to run with 25% fewer employees than it would require in the absence of automation. By 2027, plans are underway to replicate this strategy in 40 more facilities, including an older building in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and a large warehouse in Virginia Beach.
At Amazon, robotics are frequently referred to as “cobots” to imply cooperation with people rather than complete replacement. In order to control impressions in communities where employment may be lost, the corporation has also thought about referring to it as “advanced technology” rather than “automation” or “AI” in public conversations.
Move will Create New Pool of Job Opportunities: Amazon
According to Amazon, rather than merely replacing current professions, robots are supposed to generate new, better-paying technical occupations like robotics technicians. Over 160 employees at Shreveport are paid at least $24.45 per hour as robotics technicians, while other warehouse workers make about $19.50. To prepare employees for these future positions, the business also offers apprenticeship programmes in mechatronics.
However, because Amazon warehouses employ a large number of Black workers, experts caution that the shift to robotics could disproportionately damage communities of colour and blue-collar workers. Although the corporation has stated that it does not intend to lay off employees, automation and attrition may eventually result in fewer employees at some sites.
To put it briefly, Amazon is utilising robots to increase productivity and reduce costs as it moves towards a fully automated future. This raises significant concerns about the future of traditional warehouse work and the people who depend on it, even while it might lead to the creation of new technical positions.
Quick Shots
•Amazon
aims to replace over 500,000 jobs with robots by 2033.
•“Cobots”
designed to work alongside humans rather than fully replace them.
•Amazon
offers apprenticeships in mechatronics to prepare employees for new roles.
•Goal is to double warehouse
processing capacity by 2033 while controlling costs.
Technology has transformed the world and our daily lives over the years. Every year, new technologies are discovered. Revolutions emerging in the coming years will continue to impact our daily lives tremendously. Technology has significantly increased productivity and efficiency by automating repetitive processes and enabling remote work.
Whatever your industry or target market, businesses require technology to serve their clients’ demands better. Making use of cutting-edge technology can help a company stand out in terms of product offerings, services, and customer experience. Strategic technology adoption aligns to meet company goals and sustain long-term performance.
Here are some gadgets that any company seeking to reinvent its operations and thrive in the new economy should consider.
Smartboards are interactive whiteboards that incorporate both classic whiteboard functionality and digital technologies. Smartboards convert boring presentations into dynamic, interactive experiences. Multiple users can simultaneously collaborate on the same digital canvas via touch or pen input, encouraging teamwork. They help to create a more environmentally friendly and paperless office environment. Smartboards can also be effortlessly integrated with laptops, tablets, and other smart devices.
Digital Notebook
Digital notebooks are kept in digital formats, usually as files on your electronic devices. They provide synchronization across many devices, allowing users to access and edit their notes from various platforms. These notebooks are also capable of being password protected to avoid any security breaches. As more firms implement remote work practices, digital notebooks provide a flexible and accessible alternative for employees working from different locations. Updates on any project and meetings can be quickly documented. They’re highly adaptable tools that can be modified to the individual requirements of various industries and work environments.
Portable Projector
Gadgets Every Business Needs – Portable Projector
Portable projectors are intentionally designed to be moved from one place to another. They are smaller and lighter than typically fixed projectors, making them ideal for on-the-go presentations. It’s beneficial for sales pitches and product demonstrations. The presence of a rechargeable battery allows for presentations in areas where power sources are not readily available. By allowing presenters to use visual aids to create powerful presentations, portable projectors elevate the standard of professionalism at client meetings.
Wireless Charging Stations
Wireless charging stations offer a handy, cable-free way to charge electronic gadgets. Users place compatible devices on the charging pad, eliminating the need for various charging wires and connectors. Employees can charge their smartphones quickly and without interruption during breaks or meetings. Introducing this piece of technology shows your dedication to offering modern, functional facilities to clients, employees, or people visiting. You should additionally consider providing wireless charging solutions for staff at their desks, making it more convenient and time-efficient.
Biometric Authentication
Gadgets Every Business Needs – Biometric Authentication
Biometric authentication verifies and grants access using unique biological traits or behavioral patterns. Compared to traditional password-based options, biometrics provide a higher level of protection. Each person’s biometric data is unique so that biometric authentication can be highly personalized and accurate. The risk of unauthorized access is significantly reduced due to compromised passwords or stolen access cards. The use of biometric features eliminates the need for users to memorize and manage multiple passwords. When properly deployed and managed, biometric authentication can improve a company’s overall security posture.
3D Printers
As a result of their adaptability, 3D printers have become more and more popular in a variety of industries. Using digital models as a blueprint, they construct objects layer by layer. It makes it possible to produce highly personalized and tailored products that are made to meet specific requirements. Since 3D printing is relatively speedy and cost-effective, firms can afford to iterate on prototypes multiple times, refining ideas and addressing faults before final production.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) training systems are modern technologies that use immersive experiences to improve training and learning. These provide realistic simulations of job-related tasks, allowing individuals to practice and improve their skills in a safe and monitored setting.
AR/VR allows quick adaptation to changing training needs. AR/VR technologies provide users with real-time feedback, allowing them to correct faults and improve their performance on the spot.
IoT Sensors
Internet of Things (IoT) sensors collect data from the physical environment and communicate it to other devices or systems over the internet. These sensors assist firms in identifying inefficiencies and optimizing resource utilization by offering insights into operational processes. IoT sensors help with sustainability initiatives by minimizing the environmental impact of business operations and increasing resource efficiency and waste reduction. Businesses can also foresee and resolve problems before they cause disturbances. Thus, the use of IoT sensors helps to create a more connected, efficient, and data-driven environment.
Smart Desks
Gadgets Every Business Needs – Smart Desk
Smart desks are advanced pieces of furniture that incorporate technology to improve the user’s work experience. They come equipped with features like touchscreen surfaces, digital controls, built-in power outlets, and height adjustability. Incorporating technology into these desks can lead to greater space utilization as employees can have multipurpose workstations without needing additional gadgets or accessories. It significantly boosts employee well-being, productivity, and overall job satisfaction.
Robots
Robots are programmable machines that are programmed to perform specific tasks. The increasing advancement of technology has led to the increasing use of robots in workplace settings. They increase productivity by executing activities immediately, consistently, and without fatigue. Robots can be designed to undertake basic data entering, sorting, filing, and organizing papers, decreasing the manual workload for personnel. It’s important to consider what your office requires when deploying robotics for automation.
Conclusion
Embracing new technologies enables organizations to adapt to a dynamic landscape. They serve as armor in competitive business markets. Tech gadgets have become vital tools for startups and large organizations, transforming how companies function and connect with their stakeholders. So, choose the gadgets that are most compatible with your business and experience as your productivity flies high.
Humans have long been reigning the Earth as uncrowned rulers. With their sharp mind, crucial thinking ability, power of execution, and sky-high ambitions, human beings have unarguably been the wisest species living on the planet.
Time and again their existence was threatened but it is the urge to live that has chalked the way ahead for the humans. Starting from the stone age to the invention of fire, metals, followed by the grouping of humans in societies that expanded to cities and countries, humans never really shirked any opportunities of inventing new things.
Later when the humans started to be distanced from each other, they started to invent tools like the telephone, telegram, mobiles, and computers to keep them connected. Though human inventions were always speculated hugely on the necessity and the disadvantages that they would likely have, most of them went on to be successfully received by the successive generations and resulted in bettering our lives overall.
Robots are machines programmed by humans to be operated as computers that can carry out a complex series of actions without any significant aid from humans. The invention of these machines was being discussed since the emergence of the first generation of computers. However, the invention of robots was not an easy task and required severe hindrances to be overcome before they could be materialized.
The invention of robots started with that of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the first of which was developed by Christopher Strachey.
However, if you are curious about robots, then it is George Devol, who had invented the Unimate in 1954, the first commercial, digital and programmable robot.
The robot was eventually sold to General Motors in 1961, where it served as a human alternative to lift pieces of hot metal from die casting machines at the Inland Fisher Guide Plant in Ewing Township’s West Trenton section in New Jersey.
The development of robots was not only seen as a useful addition to various industries and companies to boost their overall productivity but also as robust reinforcements to get risky and dangerous tasks done without any bother.
Elon Musk’s Announcement of the All-New Tesla Bot
Elon Musk, founder, CEO, and Chief Engineer of SpaceX and CEO and Product Architect of Tesla announced on Thursday, August 19, 2021, that the electric automobile company, Tesla is almost ready with the prototype of a humanoid, which they are set to launch by next year. This is a step towards developing the next generation of AIs that look similar to the structure of humans and can work like them.
Tesla Bot
The humanoid bot is code-named “Optimus,” said the billionaire entrepreneur, who would stand 5 feet 8 inches tall and would not be “super-expensive” to afford. The robot will be based on the same chips and sensors that the Tesla autonomous cars use for operating their self-driving features.
What does Tesla Bot do?
The humanoid bot launched by Tesla can perform a wide range of chores that are considered to be dangerous, boring, or repetitive. Elon Musk further mentioned that the humanoid will be an excellent addition to the industries in order to address labor shortage issues. The all-new Tesla bot would have “profound implications for the economy,” he added.
Musk also presented the slides to exhibit the design of the bot prototype where he mentioned that the bot will have autopilot cameras installed in its head. He also declared that Optimus will weigh 125 pounds and will have the ability to run at 5 mph, lift 150 pounds and carry 45 pounds of weight.
Fetching groceries or other utilities from the store will be among some of the major benefits of using the bots.
Though the Tesla bot might seem like a unique concept and the working of such robots a breakthrough since the last AI, it is not the first humanoid bot that we have known. Yes, there is a list of humanoid robots that are already in existence and happen to be working in different sectors.
Nadine – The Robot with professor Nadia Magnenat Thalmann
We all have to interact with a customer service agent or two whenever we find any issues hindering our systematic lifestyle and work process or want to make a new visit or initiate any new processes. The customer service agents duly assist us in such works but you might also bump into Nadine, who would look similar to a woman but is actually not.
Nadine was developed in 2013 by Kokoro Japan and is modeled on professor Nadia Magnenat Thalmann.
What does the Nadine the Robot do
Nadine is a social robot that can greet you on your first visit, talk, make eye contact, remember your previous meetings and chat in the respect of the earlier meets. The social robot can talk in 6 different languages and handle a list of queries smoothly.
Nadine is currently employed as a customer service agent in AIA Insurance Company in Singapore and is the first humanoid robot in the world working as a customer service agent.
Ocean One
Ocean One
Marine life has always interested us. Though scuba divers and other manual interventions have resulted in knowing the underwater ecosystem better, however, the invention of the humanoid bot, OceanOne has further bridged the gap between the land and the water. OceanOne was developed by Stanford University in collaboration with KAUST’s Red Sea Research Center and MEKA Robotics.
What does the Ocean one the Robot do
OceanOne was developed to explore coral reefs and other submarine subjects and life forms. The robot mermaid can dive into the depths that human beings cannot. OceanOne first divided 100 meters below into the depths of the Mediterranean Sea and discovered the wreckage of La Lune of King Louis XIV of France, which sank off the southern coast of France in 1664.
Erica
Erica
News anchors bring us the latest news from our neighborhood and from across the world. However, they have all been humans, aren’t they? If you are in Japan, then think twice because there you might also be watching Erica as the news anchor!
Hiroshi Ishiguro, the Director of Intelligent Robotics Laboratory developed Erica at Osaka University. Erica is one of the most modern robots that can understand human conversations and change her facial expressions according to the conversations. Though this robot cannot walk, she is shockingly good at speaking.
What does Erica the the Robot do?
Erica can be used as a conversation company because she is smart and can talk nicely, which is almost as expressive as humans. She is currently used as a news anchor in Japan.
Nao
Nao
We have all been to soccer matches or seen them on our television or computers. What energy the soccer players display! What unity and coordinated gameplay we get to see in one such match!
However, soccer matches are not only a game solely dedicated to humans. Nowadays, robots have started to enjoy it too. Nao, the 23-inch robot is the first of its kind to engage in a game of soccer.
Invented by Aldebaran Robotics, a French robotic company, was launched in 2008 and now has an entire event RoboCup Standard Platform League, a part of Robocup, dedicated to it.
What does Nao the Robot do
Apart from playing soccer games, Nao has also emerged as an intelligent robot that can be used in multiple industries for more than one purpose. It is one of the leading robots of the world, which is adopted in more than 70 countries in total mainly for academic and research purposes. Furthermore, Nao is also used to educate autistic children. Aldebaran Robotics was acquired by Softbank Robotics in 2015, which now produces the robot.
The very thought of someone, a machine operating as we do has always fascinated us. The existence of such creatures is fun, interesting, and useful no doubt. Most of the robots that exist today are intended to be friendly. However, they are becoming more advanced with each passing day and as Elon Musk has pointed out earlier, can also turn into the “biggest risk we face as a civilization,” which we should avoid at any cost.
FAQ
What was the first humanoid robot?
The first humanoid robot was Herbert Televox built by Ron Wensley in 1927.
What are some of the popular humanoid robots?
Tesla Bot, Nao, Erica, and Nadine are some of the popular humanoid robots.
When will the Tesla bot launch?
Elon Musk has stated that Tesla will launch the Tesla Bot prototype next year.
