Brits urged to hitch the robotic revolution – despite the fact that they’re taking our jobs

On Jul 5, 2024

Boffs are urging Brits to join the rise of the psycho scumbag robots even though they’re poised to snatch millions of jobs.

Only around 25,000 industrial robots are currently at work in Britain, but experts warn their use is about to become so widespread staff need to get used to having “co-bot” colleagues.

They say today’s AI-driven machines have the power to boost productivity by an average of 16% while slashing production costs by up to 30%.

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Their creators say humans need to start welcoming them into factories and offices as they will take on dull tasks, don’t need engineers to maintain them – and can stop customers’ “pain” over bad service.

Basic robots have been used on manufacturing lines since the early 1960s
(Image: Getty Images)

Jacob Born Madsen, 31, a lead product manager for Universal Robots, said: “If you want to improve people’s working lives, robotics is a very good place for you to be.

“There are still too many jobs where people work like a robot, without the need for human creativity or ingenuity.

“Modern robotics is about ‘Automation for Anyone. Anywhere’, and how we create better roles in factories and shops for humans.

“The biggest myth in robotics is that you have to be an expert engineer.

The new generation of cyborgs can work hand-in-hand with their human counterparts
(Image: Getty Images)

“I have met great robotics product managers who have a business degree and are not very technical.

“The most important quality is empathy for your customers.

“Understand the pain that they feel and how you can change it for them through automation.”

Basic robots have been used on manufacturing lines since the early 1960s.

But the new generation of cyborgs can work hand-in-hand with their human counterparts to take over the most repetitive, mundane and physically challenging tasks.

There are also smaller, nimbler and cheaper versions of huge robotic machines dubbed co-bots who will be able to fill offices and help small manufacturing businesses.

Mark Gray, UK and Ireland manager of the Sheffield-based Universal Robots firm added: “The robotics industry traditionally has been dominated by large, complex machines that require significant up-front investment and in-house expertise to keep them running.

“But the increasing adoption of more flexible and cost-effective collaborative co-bots has democratised access to robotics across businesses of all sizes, leading to growth.”

Despite being a world leader in robotics at university level, Britain has one of the developed world’s lowest robot density.

There are only around 111 bots for every 10,000 manufacturing workers across the country.

Experts say this number is going to explode as robot use will be vital for our firms to keep up with their use in other countries, especially China.

Mike Wilson, chief automation officer at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, declared: “The adoption of robotics is projected to boost the UK’s GDP by as much as 10.3% per cent by 2030.”

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