We, Robot: What Jobs Can, And Should, Robots Replace? (The Naked City)

We, Robot: What Jobs Can, And Should, Robots Replace? is the latest column (May 5, 2025) from Coffin Ed‘s The Naked City column – exclusive to City Hub.

There was a time when robots were purely the invention of science fiction movies and B-grade literature.

In the 1950s, the rather freaky and disturbing sci fi feature Forbidden Planet introduced the world to Robby The Robot – an android who exhibited not only excellent AI, but kindness combined with a slightly acerbic wit. He was so loved by the movie going public, that he later went on to appear in a number of films and TV shows including Lost In Space and The Twilight Zone. He was eventually titled ‘the hardest working robot in Hollywood’.

Fast forward around seventy years, and China has recently staged what was billed as the world’s first half-marathon for androids, competing against real humans. Of course it was more an indication of things to come rather than a genuine contest. Early days for the technology indeed, with only four of the robotic runners completing the race, although the winner, the 1.78 metre Tiangong Ultra did make it to the finish line in an encouraging two hours and forty minutes.

Needless to say the human runners finished miles ahead, but it was, after all, just a fun run. If a similar event is staged in another decade or so, the androids could well be finishing like Gout Gout.

Whilst factories and large-scale industrial operations have been keen to replace humans with cost-cutting robots, for both efficiency and greater profits, there is a school of roboticists driven more by the common good. Theirs is very much an endeavour to create robots that can solve real world problems and assist humans with a variety of different needs.

Amongst the foremost young roboticists is Australian Marita Cheng, the founder of ‘Robogals’ and awarded  Young Australian Of The Year in 2012. Named as one of the ‘World’s Top 50 Women In Technology’ by Forbes in 2018, Marita is the CEO of Aubot, a start-up robotics company and co-founded Aipoly, an app to assist blind people to recognise objects using their mobile phone. She is passionate about educating young people about the possibilities of robotics and ‘Robogals’, which she founded at just 19 years of age, is an international student-run organisation that aims to inspire, engage and empower young women to consider studying engineering and robotics.

On the other genuine fleshy hand, there are many humans working in factories across the world, performing endless, soul destroying, ultra repetitive tasks , who have been reduced to the status of robots. 60 Minutes on Channel 9 recently highlighted just this scenario with an exposé of Mattel’s horrendous Barbie production lines in China. Replacing them with an android might actually be a positive humanitarian act, but of course it leaves them without a job.

This is the dilemma facing many highly industrialised countries where advancements in technology, particular with robots, are replacing many of their factory workers. The quandary is now where do these relatively unskilled workers go to find regular employment when the non-stop, 24-hour robots have taken away their livelihood.

And of course it’s not just assembly line workers who have dastardly robots lurking in the wings waiting to seize their jobs. It might just be futuristic paranoia but with the rapid advances in AI, who knows what jobs will fall to these android invaders? The mind boggles but here are just a few suggestions as to those on the ‘human’ redundancy list.

CLUB DJ’s: They really don’t do much – humans standing behind a dj deck pushing buttons and sliders. Why pay them $200 an hour when a robot works for free and can even waive its robotic arms in the air!

BUSKERS: There’s a guy belting out a Don McLean medley at your local shopping centre but of course he’s just a guitar slapping robot. Throw a few coins in his hat and he’ll scan Spotify for just about any song you request – bar gangster rap. Let’s keep it clean!

DOG WALKERS: It’s now a common sight in your local park. A robot walking three or four dogs at the same time. They all appear like rescue mutts from the RSPCA, but look closer – the doggies are all robots too!

STAND UP COMEDIANS: Programmed with over 10,000 jokes and able to work ‘blue’ or ‘nursing home friendly’, these comic robots even generate their own surround sound laughter. Great for stag nights, funeral wakes and Trumpet Of Patriots fundraisers.

DRUG DEALERS: Yes, it’s a horrible thought but organised crime is always quick to exploit any rapid innovation. With a discreet encrypted app on your phone there’s a pot or meth dealing bot lurking in your hood, ready to e-bike it to your door. Apprehended by the police it can instantly self destruct along with any opioids – and yes there’s another android back at crime HQ ready to take its place.