Should we worry about the growth of robots and artificial intelligence?

Can robotization and artificial intelligence be dangerous ?

We have encountered many industrial and technological changes and we are now facing a new one: the emergence of robots and artificial intelligence in our daily life.

We can notice the arrival of robots in the hospitality industry… The hotel Henn-na in Japan opened its doors in 2015 and it is completely run by robots: a robot will welcome you for your check-in, another one will carry your luggage to your room and there is even one waiting on your bedside table to switch on/off your light if you ask it to. This is the starting of the trend but it may become wider used in Japan, Asia and the whole world. These robots still cannot do everything (eg change the blankets) but with the improvement of technology, they may be able to do it in the near future. Indeed, soon they will be able to do many things and human employees may not be employed in such hotels anymore. Forecasts say that we may lose 5 million jobs within the next 5 years; so many people are reluctant regarding the arrival of robots.

Next to the check-in desk at Henn-na Hotel in Japan

Concerning the travel agencies; robots will never replace the human interaction: a robot could combine all your desires and find the perfect package for your next vacations, but it will probably not happen so as people put much emphasis on the human interaction a travel agency can bring you. The threat for traditional travel agencies in the internet, as people may find easily information online without moving and can still interact with humans.

The hospitality industry sees a great in future in the robotization, indeed it allowed the industry to cut the costs in reducing their staff.

So maybe the idea is to find the right balance between using the robots to improve the customer experience without dehumanizing the hospitality industry in  replacing completely the physical staff.

To go further in the technological advances and beyond the tourism industry, the robotization can be, in the future, a kind of threat. Questions may arise: will the robot have its own conscience? Is there no risk that it will get rebel and stop obeying to its boss?

Robots will start doing everything at our place and we won’t have to think anymore. We may become helpless after getting too much used to it: with their intelligence; robots may take the complete control.

The little robot switching on/off the lights in the room

References :

http://blog-etourisme.com/technologies/progres-robotisation-et-intelligence-artificielle-4669

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/business/technology/2015/07/16/Robots-do-check-in-and-check-out-at-cost-cutting-Japan-hotel.html

http://polvora.com.mx/2015/07/henn-na-hotel-el-primer-hotel-operado-por-robots/