In this blog post, we’ll examine the future of robotics as outlined in the “UN Future Report 2045” and consider the positive and negative impacts that the development of AI robots will have on human labor, the economy, and society.
The Advancement of Robotics and Future Society
The “UN Future Report 2045” forecasts that by 2045, technology will surpass the scope of what humanity can currently comprehend. Among the predictions presented in this book, published in 2015, there are technologies that have since been largely realized or have advanced rapidly. Not only have smartphones and wireless networks had a profound impact on daily life, but even a look at cutting-edge technologies currently in use—such as autonomous driving, 3D printing, and the Internet of Things—reveals that technologies once considered mere fantasies are now becoming a reality. The “UN Future Report 2045” offers solutions and diverse perspectives on an unpredictable future, drawn from global futurist organizations and scholars. In this article, we will focus specifically on the advancements in future robotics technology discussed in the “UN Future Report 2045.”
Thanks to advancements in sensors—which can be considered the “five senses” of AI robots—robot vacuum cleaners that navigate around obstacles, robots operating in environments difficult for humans to access, and autonomous vehicles have become a reality. Sensors enable the detection of light in wavelength ranges invisible to the human eye, and by utilizing 360-degree rotating cameras and various sensors, robots can perceive their environment in a manner similar to how humans perceive their surroundings from multiple angles. There are three main reasons why sensors have such high potential for application. First, sensors are relatively inexpensive, require low power consumption, and possess physical characteristics such as being lightweight and compact. Second, they can process large amounts of data and, particularly when connected to the cloud, can leverage massive computational resources. Consequently, AI robots equipped with sensors can collect and process vast amounts of information in real time. Third, advancements in 3D printing technology have made it possible to rapidly design and manufacture robot parts and structures. The combination of these advancements in sensor technology with artificial intelligence is making it possible for robots to significantly assist or even replace human labor. Current robot technology is expanding beyond manufacturing into various fields such as logistics, healthcare, agriculture, and services, and is being utilized to ensure human safety or to take over repetitive and physically demanding tasks. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has also recently assessed that the spread of artificial intelligence and digital technology can complement human capabilities and increase productivity, while simultaneously bringing about significant changes to certain occupations and job roles.
In particular, following the manufacturing sector, the potential for utilizing agricultural AI robots—which can recognize the shapes of various crops, handle multiple stages of farm work, and solve problems—is growing in the agricultural sector as well. Agricultural robots can be used in precision agriculture to distinguish between crops and weeds, analyze pests, diseases, and growth conditions, and apply pesticides or fertilizers only where needed. As predicted in past literature, technology that enables robots to become increasingly familiar with farming by learning independently and accumulating experience—while analyzing and reporting issues such as obstacles or diseases—continues to advance through research and practical application in agricultural settings. However, the projection of a uniform 80% reduction in pesticide use should be viewed as a future outlook from that time rather than a current general figure applicable to all agricultural environments. In fact, recent precision agriculture technologies involve research and applications aimed at reducing the use of pesticides and herbicides by distinguishing between crops and weeds to apply chemicals only where needed or by performing precise weeding operations. Furthermore, as agricultural environments change due to climate change, robots and artificial intelligence are gaining attention as technologies that boost productivity and supplement the labor force.
The Emergence of Swarm Bots and Humanoids
In particular, the book presents swarm bots and humanoids as the ultimate forms of AI robots that will emerge from future cutting-edge robotics technology. Swarm bots are based on the concept of thousands or even tens of thousands of nanorobots simultaneously carrying out commands. The basic principle behind swarm bots is that while a single locust finds it difficult to perform complex and challenging tasks and its behavior is hard to predict, a swarm of astronomical numbers of locusts can sweep across vast areas of crops and travel long distances. Swarm bots are expected to bring to life technologies that once seemed to exist only in science fiction novels—not only by easily and quickly addressing skin care, shaving, makeup, and hairstyling, but also by serving as short-distance transportation systems or even functioning as armor. The book predicts that by around 2045, improved battery technology will enable long-duration flight, allowing them to even serve as spies. However, the specific applications of these swarm bots should be viewed more as a vision of future technology rather than a technology that has been widely commercialized to date. In contrast, humanoids are robots with forms resembling humans and can be considered the embodiment of the robots humans have long dreamed of. HUBO, developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in 2004, was equipped with five independently moving fingers and could play “rock-paper-scissors”; it demonstrated advanced mobility for its time, capable of a wide range of movements and walking patterns. Since then, humanoid robots have been advancing at an even faster pace alongside developments in sensors, computing power, and artificial intelligence technology, and there is a growing movement to utilize them beyond laboratories in industrial settings starting in 2025.
As such, the author takes a very positive stance, anticipating the various benefits that advancements in sensor and AI robotics—as well as the emergence of swarm bots and humanoids for everyday use—will bring to humanity. In fact, recent trends in robotics show an increasing number of examples where robots are evolving not to completely replace humans, but to complement human capabilities and take over dangerous or repetitive tasks—such as collaborative robots that work alongside humans, robots that assist with logistics and manufacturing, and robots that provide medical and caregiving support. Although humanoids have not yet reached the stage of possessing human-level intelligence or general autonomy, efforts to apply them in real-world work environments through the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics technology are progressing rapidly.
Problems Arising When Robots Replace Human Labor
However, we must also consider the negative impacts—like a double-edged sword—that these future robotics technologies may have. If, as the author suggests, an advanced society arrives where robots can take over most of the labor currently performed by humans, will humans become even more creative and advanced beings than they are now? Conversely, if an era arrives where labor is no longer necessary, isn’t there a risk that humans might instead become obsolete? If a world arrives where AI robots can replace human labor on a very broad scale, it is possible that the majority of people—with the exception of a tiny minority of experts in specific fields—will be forced to lead lives disconnected from technology. Compared to the Stone Age, when people devoted most of their lives solely to survival, there is no doubt that as civilization has continuously advanced, new occupations and specialized fields have emerged not only in manual labor but also in a wide variety of areas such as the arts, entertainment, medical technology, and the natural sciences. However, this advancement of civilization and diversity of academic disciplines may give rise to new social problems in the distant future. While scholars in ancient times studied and were recognized for their expertise in various fields—such as mathematics, philosophy, music, medicine, and astronomy—in the modern era, as academic disciplines continue to become increasingly subdivided and specialized, even respected professors typically focus their research on specialized knowledge within a specific field. No matter how efficient an educational system may become in the future, human learning requires sufficient time; therefore, there are inherent limits to gaining a broad understanding of increasingly diverse and specialized fields of study. Taking communication methods as an example, while it is easy to explain the function and principles of a signal fire to the general public, it is practically difficult to provide a detailed explanation of the structure and operating principles of a smartphone—which utilizes cutting-edge technology—without an expert devoting a significant amount of time and effort. Consequently, if the public’s level of technological understanding fails to keep pace with the speed of civilizational progress, social problems such as the breakdown of public morality or unintended violations of legal regulations may arise. However, analyses of current research on artificial intelligence and robotics suggest that, rather than unilaterally eliminating human jobs, these technologies are more likely to transform the workforce by automating certain aspects of existing tasks and complementing human capabilities. Therefore, the key issue for the future will not simply be which—humans or robots—will dominate the workforce, but rather how society and the education system can be structured to enable humans to adapt to the changing work environment and secure new roles.
Another concern is that as robots replace most labor, the range of tasks that humans can perform may become limited. In economics, there has been ongoing discussion about the likelihood that the wealth gap will widen over time in capitalist societies. Furthermore, as robotics technology advances, the mass production and operational efficiency of robots are likely to increase. Therefore, in a future society where robots replace most jobs, it is foreseeable that the only paths available for the economically disadvantaged to acquire capital will be limited to jobs that pay less than the operational efficiency of robots or to illegal activities. Even with access to various benefits of civilization, if the majority of ordinary people lead lives that run counter to society’s scientific progress, their sense of relative deprivation compared to the wealthy may grow, and it would be difficult to describe this as a desirable future. Furthermore, if advanced robotics technology leads to smaller social communities, people may experience an even greater sense of isolation. Considering the shift from the agricultural era—when extended families were the primary family structure—to the industrial era, where nuclear families became the norm, as well as the increasing number of single men and women in modern times, we can anticipate that in the mechanized era, where it is entirely possible to live alone, the individual will likely become the basic unit of the community. In such a socially isolated environment, people may experience loneliness, a loss of purpose, or boredom, and in severe cases, they may even suffer from mental health issues such as depression. Even with advances in communication technologies like video calls and holograms, it will be difficult to completely resolve the loneliness people may feel in a physically disconnected environment.
How Should Robot Technology Be Designed for Humans?
As time passes, science will continue to advance, and technology will permeate society as a whole, regardless of people’s good or evil intentions. However, we must not forget that science and technology are means to serve human life. Through moderate labor, people come to understand what they truly need, and in the process, they learn and grow. However, humans who can easily satisfy their desires will have less need for complex thinking, and such humans will be no different from well-fed lions in a zoo, lying comfortably while having lost their wild nature and willpower. To prevent humans from becoming obsolete for the technological, economic, and social reasons mentioned earlier, the purpose of developing AI robots must go beyond mere convenience and curiosity and be centered on human benefits and needs. In particular, rather than focusing solely on robots replacing human labor, we need to advance technology in a way that enables humans to concentrate on safer and more creative activities. Advances in robotics are already transforming human life, and their influence is likely to grow even greater in the future. Therefore, the crucial question is not whether robots can replace humans, but how we can harness the capabilities of robots and artificial intelligence for the benefit of human life, and how we can preserve the role and dignity of humans in the process.
