German Stamp, 1987

The world is entering a “Fourth Industrial Revolution ”characterized by unprecedented “developments in genetics, artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, 3D printing, and biotechnology.” 

(World Economic Forum)

Robotics in the Workplace

Two-Thirds of the Jobs in this City Could Be Automated by 2035, MarketWatch (July 5, 2017)

• The city is Las Vegas
• 55 percent of jobs in metropolitan areas face the same scenario

Image by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, 2013

A Robot May Be Training To Do Your Job. Don't Panic. The New York Times (September 10, 2016)


Yes, the Robots Will Steal Our Jobs. And That's Fine. The Washington Post (February 17, 2016)

Automation is a Job Engine, New Research Says

• Study of computer automation in 317 occupations from 1980 to 2013
• Employment grows significantly faster in occupations that use computers more

Where Machines Could Replace Humans--And Where They Can't (Yet)


Four Fundamentals of Workplace Automation

• 45% of work activities could be automated using existing technology

• 60% of all occupations could have 30% of their activities automated

• Only 5% of all occupations could be entirely automated using existing technology

The Rise of the Robots, Martin Ford (Basic Books, 2016)


The Five Jobs Robots Will Take First

The Five Jobs Robots Will Take Last


What is a Robot? PBS Learning Media

A scene from R.U.R., showing three robots

R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) by Karel Capaek (1921)

The Czech Play That Gave Us the Word 'Robot'

• R.U.R, (which stands for Rossum's Universal Robots) by Karel Capek, marks the first use of the word "robot" to describe an artificial person.

• Capek invented the term, basing it on the Czech word for "forced labor."

• (Robot entered the English language in 1923.)

Read the Text of the Play

Summary of the Play