The author reflects on the ethical implications of advances in robot technology. He notes that labor-saving devices are often promoted as freeing people from drudgery, but they also eradicate job sectors. Automating time-consuming tasks can increase productivity to the point where fewer employees are needed. The question of whether robots will eventually be used not only for dangerous and boring work, but for more complex tasks as well is also addressed.
Notes
Borenstein, Jason 1; Email Address: borenstein@gatech.edu; Affiliations: 1: Director of Graduate Research Ethics Programs, School of Public Policy, Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA.; Issue Info: Jul2010, Vol. 53 Issue 7, p30; Thesaurus Term: ROBOTS; Thesaurus Term: EMPLOYMENT changes; Thesaurus Term: ROBOTICS; Subject Term: ETHICS; Number of Pages: 2p; Illustrations: 1 Color Photograph; Document Type: Opinion
