How AI and humanoid robots will change manufacturing

Humanoid robots and AI are expected to take on more roles in factories, but are feared to "steal" human jobs.

In the manufacturing sector, new technology is always pioneered, from steam engines hundreds of years ago to assembly robots at factories. However, the emergence of AI and humanoid robots promises to become a giant leap in the next decade or so.

Walker S, UBTech's humanoid robot, inspects auto components in NIO's vehicle assembly plant (China). Photo: UBTech

The role of AI and robots

Currently, production has been automated in many stages. The lines are equipped with sensors, software, and computers that monitor both input and output, operational data, pressure and temperature of machines on a scale that connects not only within a factory, but can link transnationally.

"For example, in an oil refinery, which has thousands of operating parts to produce 250,000-500,000 barrels of oil per day, their management must be done by machines," said Jason Urso, technology director of the software department. software from industrial group Honeywell, told the FT .

Urso predicts that in the next 10 years, more than 80% of manufacturing facilities in the US can use AI to operate control systems and troubleshoot problems. For example, if a machine makes an unusual sound, AI will analyze the sound, summarize the problem involved, and recommend corrective action to the technician.

In fact, some manufacturers are already equipped with this type of AI. For example, American Steel Corporation said it will use Google's general AI software to guide workers in repairing trucks and ordering parts.

AI is also playing a larger role in product design, as AI-integrated Autodesk Fusion software can help engineers sketch out a 3D model design of a vehicle in minutes instead of days.

"Not only can it create vehicle design models in a short time, AI can also control characteristics such as wheelbase, vehicle type, and even find hundreds, if not thousands, of technical alternatives." engineer until satisfied," said Stephen Hooper, Vice President of software development, design and manufacturing at Autodesk.

In factories, robots have long been used to assemble parts, but are mainly designed in the form of arms. But according to Reuters , the next generation will be humanoid robots powered by AI and working alongside humans. They are expected to have enough dexterity and learning ability to handle processes such as selecting and sorting objects into categories.

Walker S robot replaces humans to check electric vehicles. Video: UBTech

Geordie Rose, co-founder and CEO of Sanctuary AI, predicts the first versions of humanoid robots could be operational in the next five years. The company is aiming to create such a machine with "human-like intelligence" and now has its first prototype. The company's Phoenix robot model is 1.7 meters tall, weighs 70 kg and can walk at a speed of 5 km/h. It will still be operated by humans, but Rose said the final version will have memory, sight, sound and touch.

According to Goldman Sachs, demand for humanoid robots in manufacturing will be "significant", especially in the field of electric vehicle assembly. However, making them is considered much more difficult than creating other types of robots.

People can lose their jobs

According to experts, production line workers, quality control reviewers and machine operators will be the first to lose their jobs as AI and humanoid robots develop.

"No-AI robots have replaced 500,000 jobs in the US and between 6 and 9 million manufacturing jobs globally since the 1980s," said associate professor Pascual Restrepo, who researches industrial robotics at Boston University. , speak. "As AI and humanoid robots are applied, this number will increase exponentially."

According to estimates by recruitment company Nash Squared, in the car manufacturing sector alone, 14% of jobs will be replaced by AI. Gabriele Eder, head of manufacturing, industrial and automotive at Google Cloud, explains this because machines and AI "often operate with greater precision and consistency than human operators".

Kan Matsuzaki, an expert at IndustriALL - an international union representing more than 50 million workers in the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors, said the organization's members are very worried about AI and robots. steal" jobs, despite acknowledging their benefits, such as improving safety in production.

New job

Some experts predict AI will create many new jobs in the manufacturing sector, although many old jobs will be eliminated. Marie El Hoyek, an expert on AI and industry at consulting firm McKinsey, said that the new jobs will be operating AI, monitoring the performance of AI and robots, programming robots and working in the scientific field. data.

Cedrik Neike, head of Siemens, said AI will increase the demand for "forensic AI scientists". These are people with a solid technology background, capable of analyzing the performance of AI systems, easily detecting where AI errors are and adjusting them.

However, AI systems and humanoid robots, when widely deployed, still tend to cause more people to lose their jobs. "The question is who benefits from them," Matsuzaki said. "The adoption of AI and robotics will increase automation, leading to increased productivity and profits. But it will also reduce the number of workers."

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