Can robots take over? Existential angst and the robo-taxi

Earlier this week, an intriguing video grabbed the attention of countless Twitter users. An ‘X’ (formerly twitter) user posted a clip showing a masked individual mercilessly attacking a robotaxi with a hammer, shattering its windshield and damaging the sophisticated navigational equipment mounted on its roof. The sheer intensity of the act pointed towards more than mere vandalism—it suggested an existential crisis of technology encroaching on traditional human roles. Have we reached a breaking point, pitting human against robot? There have been other instances of vandalism and attacks on robo-taxis by individuals.

As I watched the video, it was almost like an existential scream: a human literally smashing the impending robotic future.

Are there reasons for concern? Are robots threatening the future of humans?

Maybe.

The hammer-wielding masked man may be acting out fears that many Americans are already feeling, as AI and robots race into our lives, with seemingly little time to adjust to this seachange: According to a survey, 72% of Americans are worried about a future where robots perform most of the jobs. Robotics and automation have already taken a big bite out of the opportunities available for blue-collar workers: Now, robots are expected to replace up to 20 million manufacturing jobs by 2030. What’s new here is — with AI, white-collar work is now being automated. 

Acceleration in technological advancement, particularly in the arenas of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), has raised numerous questions about the consequences of integrating robots into our everyday lives. By 2030, it is estimated that there will be over 20 million self-driving cars on the roads. As robots take over more and more jobs the question becomes: can robots indeed take over? And if so, what implications does it carry for our jobs, our social structures, and our very existence? Already, over 60% of people believe that robots will take over most human jobs within the next 50 years. 

Let’s delve deeper into these pressing concerns – the societal implications, probable outcomes, and the larger questions about humanity’s relationship with robots: 

• Are job losses inevitable in the age of automation?
• Can we, as humans, build meaningful relationships with robots?
• Is it possible to manage the ethical dilemmas posed by advanced AI?
• Are we facing an existential threat from our own creations?

As we traverse this challenging and exciting new landscape, it’s essential to remember that this is not a one-sided discussion. The dialogue about the encroachment of AI and robots into our lives isn’t entirely dystopian. Just as there are challenges, there are also potential benefits—transformed workplaces, increased productivity, and new modes of communication. Still, the hammer-wielding human in the video does raise a pertinent question—how prepared are we to embrace this change, and will it come one shattered windshield at a time?