By Charles Pan ’18, Commentary Editor

In the 21^st century, technological devices have become much more efficient and convenient, so much so that we take this technology for granted in our everyday lives. At Newark Academy, there is nothing simpler than opening a laptop, pulling out a smartphone, or (for some) glancing at a smartwatch. While some argue that technology is ruining face-to-face communication between people, there is no turning back. However, the question of the continued development of technology is up for debate: will advances in technology, specifically the new hot topic of robots, further benefit our society or damage it?

The primary issue in this debate is whether or not the shift in the job market from labor work to technological-scientific work will ultimately be beneficial for the economy and for society. However, despite concerns that robots will eventually take our jobs, the benefits of robots to our society outweigh the potential costs. Robots have advantages over humans in three areas: productivity, safety, and savings.

It is undisputed that robots are more efficient than humans; they are accurate to an unbelievable degree and consistently produce high quality work with no mistakes. They are able to produce more goods in a shorter amount of time and can work constantly and repetitively without breaks, which could give the world a greater supply of just about any good. Therefore, overall efficiency and productivity would increase, with the product being of a better quality.

Secondly, advanced technology spares humans from performing many dangerous tasks and from working in dangerous conditions. They effectively increase worker safety and will effectively decrease worker accidents, and robots are capable of lifting heavy loads without getting injured or tired. Senior Adam Magistro agrees, explaining, “Take laser eye surgery, for example. It is now run by robots, and the efficiency and accuracy has increased a lot. In addition, doctors don’t have to worry about having a shaky hand because a robot can perform the exact same task multiple times.”

Lastly, robots save time and money by producing a greater amount of goods in a smaller time, and they reduce the amount of wasted material due to their precision.

On the issue of jobs, in the long run, robots will not end up costing the workforce too many jobs and will eventually be beneficial to society. With every technological and innovative shift in society, there has always been mix-up in the composition of the workforce. For example, during the Industrial Revolution, for every agrarian occupation that became more difficult to maintain, many more factory jobs were created. History has shown that yes, some jobs have been lost to machines, but many have risen in their presence. Overall, the machines and robots have brought more positive changes to society than negative ones because they allow people to accomplish more and also bring advancements in medicine and health. The true reason that people are scared that technology will take over their jobs is that people are concerned that they do not have the skill set needed to perform in a technological society. This relates back to the concept of the redistribution of the workforce, meaning that jobs aren’t actually being lost, but rather they’re being recreated elsewhere that have different skill requirements and skill sets needed. Essentially, if the United States were to embrace STEM programs and other technologically focused education, our society would embrace the coming technological revolution and robots with open arms, as robots would be able to perform menial tasks and let humans explore their full potential.

This article reflects the opinion of its writer, not The Minuteman as a whole. Click here to check out an alternative viewpoint, and be sure to comment below!