Humans vs. Robots: The Impact of 4IR PDF

Humans vs. Robots We are in the age of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR). Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, characterizes 4IR as a “Technological revolution that is blurring the lines between physical, digital and biological spheres.”  Humans vs. Robot...

Humans vs. Robots We are in the age of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR). Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, characterizes 4IR as a “Technological revolution that is blurring the lines between physical, digital and biological spheres.”  Humans vs. Robots 1st Industrial Revolution 2nd Industrial Revolution (1760-1820) - was marked (1820-1900) - was by the rise of steam įumpstarted with the use of engines. electricity. 3rd Industrial Revolution 4th Industrial Revolution (1900s) - the age of - marked by intelligence computers ushered Industrial Revolutions 1IR 2IR 3IR 4IR Humans vs. Robots The rise of machines, accompanying the progress in science and technology, may render humans useless. Manual labor is gradually being replaced by machinery. Computers become more and more sophisticated. Robots, usually designed like human beings, are created to perform complex, repetitive, or dangerous tasks. Humans vs. Robots Though the Philippines has not yet reached the point of producing robots on a commercial scale for household use, it still behooves us to ponder the ramifications of replacing persons with machinery. Humans vs. Robots To Filipinos, artificial intelligence seems like the stuff of science fiction movies. Be that as it may, its use in the country is surely gaining ground, especially in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. Technology enables the growth of the BPO industry, but it seems that it is also technology that will kill the industry. Humans vs. Robots Business analytics is a means by which consumer and industry data are used to come up with better decision-making. With the help of AI, decisions now arise from sophisticated statistical analyses made from massive data. As of August 2017, it is estimated that a million FIlipino BPO workers may be affected and lose their įobs with the adoption of artificial intelligence (Santos, 2017). Unemployment is only one of the many ethical considerations in the widespread use of AI. In the future, when machines and robots become more human-like, with all the attendant feelings and thoughts, people may also have to consider the ethical treatment for AI. It is also interesting to note that as machines and robots approach having a human-like nature, reversely, humans may have the tendency to become machine-like. Since many of the things people need, from conveniences to information, are available with įust the touch and swipe of the fingertips, humans begin to function more like automatons.  The internet has become an instant go-to tool for answers to questions. More often than not, people accept what a search engine, like Google, spews out in byte sizes and forget how to process, read, think further, or put things in context. As the internet gets more intelligent, we are in danger of becoming less so. In the article, "Is Google making us stupid?", Nicolas Carr (2008) asserted that "as we come to rely on computers to mediate our understanding of the world, it is our own intelligence that flattens into artificial intelligence."  The development of society with its science and technology gives rise to more and more complex issues. What is vital is that, at the very least, we are able to protect and exercise human rights for everyone in our pursuit of the good life. 4IR presents us with opportunities to improve our lives and change the world for the better. The COVID-19 global pandemic fast-tracked the development of 4IR technologies as we seek to do complex tasks with less in-person interactions. From food deliveries to medical diagnoses to space travel, the synergy of the physical, biological and digital aspects of our lives has become more apparent. Why the Future Doesn’t Need us Bill Joy (2000) In his work, he contended that our most powerful 21st-centuries technologies—genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics (GNR)—are threatening to make humans an endangered species. Accustomed to living with almost routine scientific breakthroughs, we have yet to come to terms with the fact that the most compelling 21st-century technologies— robotics, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology—pose a different threat than the technologies that have come before. Specifically, robots, engineered organisms, and nanobots share a dangerous amplifying factor: They can self-replicate. A bomb is blown up only once—but one bot can become many, and quickly get out of control.  Each of these technologies also offers untold promise: The vision of near immortality drives us forward; genetic engineering may soon provide treatments, if not outright cures, for most diseases; and nanotechnology and nano medicine can address yet more ills. Together they could significantly extend our average life span and improve the quality of our lives. Yet, with each of these technologies, a sequence of small, individually sensible advances leads to an accumulation of great power and, concomitantly, great danger.  Science and technology may be the highest expression of human rationality. People are able to shape or Destry the world with it. Human nature may be corrupted when the powers of our mind, our rationality, and our science and technology become manifest. If we are not able to rein in the vanity and arrogance that such powers unleash, then we are on the way to destroying the world. Thank you!