This is Gundam, a robot from Japanese fiction. Till about a few months ago, Gundam was only confined to Manga, films, merchandise and plastic models. Gundam has now come to life in Yokohama. It can walk, bend a knee. point at the sky and do a host of other things.

But what's Gundam's job? This life-size robot is the centrepiece of the brand's Yokohama factory. It's 18 metres tall. It was supposed to be opened to public on October 1. But the plans were changed and now Gundam fans will have to wait for sometime before they can meet their hero in real-time.

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The giant above is a showpiece. But there are robots half its size that are fighting real-life enemies. Robots are fighting the Wuhan virus at one of London's biggest train stations. Their weapon of choice is UV light.

The robots work by moving into a room. They automatically map out a room and take a route around the room that is most effective in cleaning and disinfecting that room or a particular room.

The same type of robot is lending a helping hand to Wuhan virus patients in Egypt.

Halfway across the world. Mitra too is doing a fine job. It is helping Wuhan virus patients in India speak to their loved ones. Mitra means friend in Hindi.

Another robot, or rather a dog robot is helping humans avoid high-risk areas. It can be a dangerous terrain or mines, the robot Scar can go anywhere. Scar has 5 camera modules. The robot can observe the environment, take measurements, and even map an area.

Fantasy and reality can easily be fused in the amusing world we live in. It took a pandemic for us to shed our fear of these robots. Not all of them are here to steal our jobs. Some of them are here just to make our lives a little easier.

This is Gundam, a robot from Japanese fiction. Till about a few months ago, Gundam was only confined to Manga, films, merchandise and plastic models. Gundam has now come to life in Yokohama.

This is Gundam, a robot from Japanese fiction. Till about a few months ago, Gundam was only confined to Manga, films, merchandise and plastic models. Gundam has now come to life in Yokohama. It can walk, bend a knee. point at the sky and do a host of other things. But what's Gundam's job? This life-size robot is the centrepiece of the brand's Yokohama factory. It's 18 metres tall. It was supposed to be opened to public on October 1. But the plans were changed and now Gundam fans will have to wait for sometime before they can meet their hero in real-time. Life-sized Gundam in Yokohama is now in testing mode.pic.twitter.com/51HVoraPb7 — Catsuka (@catsuka) September 21, 2020 × The giant above is a showpiece. But there are robots half its size that are fighting real-life enemies. Robots are fighting the Wuhan virus at one of London's biggest train stations. Their weapon of choice is UV light. The robots work by moving into a room. They automatically map out a room and take a route around the room that is most effective in cleaning and disinfecting that room or a particular room. The same type of robot is lending a helping hand to Wuhan virus patients in Egypt. Halfway across the world. Mitra too is doing a fine job. It is helping Wuhan virus patients in India speak to their loved ones. Mitra means friend in Hindi. Another robot, or rather a dog robot is helping humans avoid high-risk areas. It can be a dangerous terrain or mines, the robot Scar can go anywhere. Scar has 5 camera modules. The robot can observe the environment, take measurements, and even map an area. Fantasy and reality can easily be fused in the amusing world we live in. It took a pandemic for us to shed our fear of these robots. Not all of them are here to steal our jobs. Some of them are here just to make our lives a little easier.

Fantasy and reality fuse, with robots in tow

Spring graduation ceremonies in Japan have been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, but students at one school were able to attend remotely by controlling avatar robots while logged on at home.

WION Dispatch: Robots replace students at graduation ceremony in Indonesia

Mira Robotics developed its "ugo" robot to reinforce greying Japan's shrinking workforce, but as the coronavirus threat persists, the Japanese startup is offering its machine as a tool in the fight against the outbreak, the company's CEO said.

Robot built for Japan's ageing workforce finds coronavirus role

One robot makes cocktails from 25 bottles hanging upside-down from the ceiling, another carves perfect ice balls in the fraction of the time it takes a human with a knife and an ice pick.

Robo-bartenders are shaking up South Korea's cafe and bar culture as the country transitions from intensive social distancing to what the government calls "distancing in daily life".

And they look snazzy doing it too.

In a tailored vest and bow tie, six-foot-tall Cabo narrates his actions as he carves ice for a whisky on the rocks behind the bar at Coffee Bar K in Seoul.

"Do you see this? A beautiful ice ball has been made. Enjoy some cold whisky," he says in Korean.

Cabo made his debut in 2017, but his presence is particularly reassuring now as the bar looks to encourage customers to return to entertainment facilities after the coronavirus outbreak.

"Since this space is usually filled with people, customers tend to feel very anxious," said Choi Won-woo, a human bartender who assembles the drinks. "I think they would feel safer if the robot makes and serves the ice rather than if we were to do it ourselves."

At the Cafe Bot Bot Bot coffee bar, where the robot arm shakes up mojitos and other cocktails, manager Kim Tae-wan also pointed out that the 'drink bot' can provide a consistent quality to their mixes that human bartenders can't.

Customers seemed encouraged by the safety the robots provided, though one pointed out a critical quality the robo-bartenders lacked.

"It's a little disappointing that you can't talk to the bartenders," said 21-year-old university student Moon Seong-eun.

"One of the good things about going to a bar to drink is that you can chat to them about the drinks or about my worries."

One robot makes cocktails from 25 bottles hanging upside-down from the ceiling, another carves perfect ice balls in the fraction of the time it takes a human with a knife and an ice pick.

One robot makes cocktails from 25 bottles hanging upside-down from the ceiling, another carves perfect ice balls in the fraction of the time it takes a human with a knife and an ice pick. Robo-bartenders are shaking up South Korea's cafe and bar culture as the country transitions from intensive social distancing to what the government calls "distancing in daily life". And they look snazzy doing it too. In a tailored vest and bow tie, six-foot-tall Cabo narrates his actions as he carves ice for a whisky on the rocks behind the bar at Coffee Bar K in Seoul. "Do you see this? A beautiful ice ball has been made. Enjoy some cold whisky," he says in Korean. Cabo made his debut in 2017, but his presence is particularly reassuring now as the bar looks to encourage customers to return to entertainment facilities after the coronavirus outbreak. "Since this space is usually filled with people, customers tend to feel very anxious," said Choi Won-woo, a human bartender who assembles the drinks. "I think they would feel safer if the robot makes and serves the ice rather than if we were to do it ourselves." At the Cafe Bot Bot Bot coffee bar, where the robot arm shakes up mojitos and other cocktails, manager Kim Tae-wan also pointed out that the 'drink bot' can provide a consistent quality to their mixes that human bartenders can't. Customers seemed encouraged by the safety the robots provided, though one pointed out a critical quality the robo-bartenders lacked. "It's a little disappointing that you can't talk to the bartenders," said 21-year-old university student Moon Seong-eun. "One of the good things about going to a bar to drink is that you can chat to them about the drinks or about my worries."

Robo-bartenders take over South Korea's cafe and bar culture

Social distancing: Dutch restaurant places robots to dish out drinks!

An autonomous robot equipped with an LED screen greets visitors at the lobby of the headquarters of SK Telecom in downtown Seoul. It not only checks body temperatures, dispenses hand sanitisers and disinfects the floor, it also polices who is wearing and who's not wearing a face mask.

Move! South Korean robot provides total prevention solution to fight virus

Restaurants are turning to new delivery methods as quarantine continues with robots filling in some roles to increase distance between people.

Automated delivery drives restaurant changes during pandemic

How robots can disinfect places? Know in this video..

How robots can disinfect places?

The deadly animal virus pandemic Coronavirus, which has sent waves of terror around the world, may have had its origins in the pandemic, in Wuhan, a laboratory linked to China's secret biological weapons program.

Reports: Coronavirus was originated in a Wuhan Lab

China seems to tackle manpower shortages amid the coronavirus outbreak. Now the country has designed 5G powered robots to check the body temperature of people. It will be helpful to reduce the person to person contact to avoid the risk of coronavirus spreading further.

Coronavirus Outbreak: More than 37,000 people infected in China

China: 89 more deaths reported, death toll surges to 811 | Coronavirus Outbreak

Coronavirus Outbreak: CGTN'S Xinchen Xu reports from Wuhan China seems to tackle manpower shortages amid the coronavirus outbreak. Now the country has designed 5G powered robots to check the body temperature of people. It will be helpful to reduce the person to person contact to avoid the risk of coronavirus spreading further.

Coronavirus Outbreak: CGTN'S Xinchen Xu reports from Wuhan

Watch: China's Health Commission briefs media on Coronavirus... China seems to tackle manpower shortages amid the coronavirus outbreak. Now the country has designed 5G powered robots to check the body temperature of people. It will be helpful to reduce the person to person contact to avoid the risk of coronavirus spreading further. #ChinaVirus #WuhanVirus #WIONNews #WIONIndiaNews _____________________ About Channel: WION -The World is One News, examines global issues with in-depth analysis. We provide much more than the news of the day. Our aim to empower people to explore their world. With our Global headquarters in New Delhi, we bring you news on the hour, by the hour. We deliver information that is not biased. We are journalists who are neutral to the core and non-partisan when it comes to the politics of the world. People are tired of biased reportage and we stand for a globalised united world. So for us the World is truly One. Please keep discussions on this channel clean and respectful and refrain from using racist or sexist slurs as well as personal insults. Subscribe to our channel at https://goo.gl/JfY3NI Check out our website: http://www.wionews.com Connect with us on our social media handles: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WIONews Twitter: https://twitter.com/WIONews Follow us on Google News for latest updates WION: shorturl.at/fwKO0 Zee News English: shorturl.at/aJVY3 Zee News Hindi: shorturl.at/eorM1 Zee Business: shorturl.at/hpqX6 DNA News: shorturl.at/rBOY6 BGR: shorturl.at/eioqL

China's Health Commission briefs media on Coronavirus

W.H.O. team to leave for China to probe over Coronavirus outbreak

China uses robots for coronavirus tests

Are you worried about A.I. stealing your jobs? If yes, then this report will be food for thought. In South Korea, firms are already using A.I. to hire employees. Soon, candidates may have to impress a robot to get a job. Details in this report. #Gravitas #Robots #RobotsInterview

Gravitas: Need a job? Get ready to be interviewed by a robot!

A California-based aviation and aerospace company is in the process of creating an army of autonomous robots that could be sent to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chandrayaan-2-nasa-satellite-finds-indias-vikram-moon-lander-releases-images-of-impact-site-265811">moon</a> and mine its surface.&nbsp;

Pasadena, California situated OffWorld is a company which fans the idea of a future of robots in space. Before NASA carries out its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/new-lunar-mission-chandrayaan-3-to-launch-in-november-2020-isro-271367">manned mission to the moon</a>, the idea is to have these robots up on the lunar surface to do the prep.

What's special about these robots is their ability to take autonomous decisions and carry out tasks on their own without needing any commands or timely supervision.&nbsp;

The robots are based on the existing technologies like mining on the earth surface and would be able to carry out tasks that have never been entrusted on machines before.&nbsp;

The company's vision is to create colonies of smart robots that would "under human supervision" aim to turn "the inner solar system into a better, gentler, greener place for life and civilization," as stated on OffWorld official website.&nbsp;

The company sees its many smart robots as the enabler of human expansion beyond planet earth. It has previously built rocket engines, spacecraft and launched several satellites. 
&nbsp;

A California-based aviation and aerospace company is in the process of creating an army of autonomous robots that could be sent to the moon and mine its surface.

A California-based aviation and aerospace company is in the process of creating an army of autonomous robots that could be sent to the moon and mine its surface. Pasadena, California situated OffWorld is a company which fans the idea of a future of robots in space. Before NASA carries out its manned mission to the moon, the idea is to have these robots up on the lunar surface to do the prep. What's special about these robots is their ability to take autonomous decisions and carry out tasks on their own without needing any commands or timely supervision. The robots are based on the existing technologies like mining on the earth surface and would be able to carry out tasks that have never been entrusted on machines before. The company's vision is to create colonies of smart robots that would "under human supervision" aim to turn "the inner solar system into a better, gentler, greener place for life and civilization," as stated on OffWorld official website. The company sees its many smart robots as the enabler of human expansion beyond planet earth. It has previously built rocket engines, spacecraft and launched several satellites.

Smart robots in the offing to help mine the moon

It sounds counterintuitive, but members of Generation Z will have to focus on human connections if they want to compete with robots for the jobs of the future.

Born after 1996 on the heels of the millennials,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tech-it-out-ep-26-e-parenting-for-the-gen-z-2790"> Gen Z</a> is just entering the workforce. Its members are the first true digital natives, and their ability to adapt to an automating workplace will likely determine their success.

While science and engineering degrees are on the rise, “soft” skills such as intellectual insight, flexibility, intuition, and creativity will be essential for workers competing with machines that are growing more technically proficient.

Here are the soft skills Gen Z members need to succeed:

Be an effective strategic communicator

Some employers fear that digital native workers might be too much like the robots they are competing with. What will make Gen Z workers stand out? Good communication skills.

Those in technology fields often work remotely or in relative isolation, so they do not always get enough time to sharpen their interpersonal skills, said Jason Wingard, dean, and professor of the school of professional studies at Columbia University.

There is a way for young people to train for that skill, though, added Vicki Walia, chief talent and capability officer at financial services giant Prudential.

"Gen Zs should not under-emphasize the importance of relationship building, listening, communicating, working collaboratively,” Walia said.

One way to do this is through mentorship. Young workers should work to form relationships with older colleagues or even engage in "reverse mentorships," helping an older worker learn a new technology skill.

Last year, Russell Bingham, a senior engineering major, participated in the clinic program at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, which partners student teams with companies. The interactions were “eye-opening,” Bingham said, making him find better ways to interact with colleagues.

Be a continuous learner

While most of Generation Z is still in school, they already need to think about how to continually adapt to a fast-changing world. Their advantage, said Walia, is that they are “digitally capable and multidimensional.”

To succeed, they must be pragmatic and realistic about their skills and how desired skillsets will change. For example, Walia said graduates might be trained in Microsoft Excel, but a job might require them to learn how to interpret that data.

"Storytelling skills are an important part of being able to help others interpret the data, and use it to tell a story through data visualization," Walia said.

More industry knowledge also equals more money up to $6,387 more a year in salary in a high-wage industry according to a study the MIT-IBM Watson AI lab did between 2010 and 2017.

Find work that gives you a sense of purpose

Nearly half of the Gen Zs said they had experienced job burnout in the past year, according to a survey by ServiceNow, a Santa Clara, California cloud computing company. Half said they were considering a job outside their current industry because of it.

Workers are at their best when doing something meaningful to them, said Obed Louissaint, vice president of talent at IBM.

To avoid burnout, young people should couple finding purpose with taking proper mental breaks and trying to build healthy habits, Louissaint added.

Harvey Mudd student Bingham, for instance, is looking for a job that lets him apply his science and engineering skills to projects with societal impact. He recently worked as part of the expedition team that located the HMS Urge submarine after it was lost at sea for 77 years.

"That experience has led me to strongly value the fact that my unique robotics skill set can be an asset to people and projects totally outside the direct development of robots," Bingham said.

It sounds counterintuitive, but members of Generation Z will have to focus on human connections if they want to compete with robots for the jobs of the future. Born after 1996 on the heels of the millennials, Gen Z is just entering the workforce.

It sounds counterintuitive, but members of Generation Z will have to focus on human connections if they want to compete with robots for the jobs of the future. Born after 1996 on the heels of the millennials, Gen Z is just entering the workforce. Its members are the first true digital natives, and their ability to adapt to an automating workplace will likely determine their success. While science and engineering degrees are on the rise, “soft” skills such as intellectual insight, flexibility, intuition, and creativity will be essential for workers competing with machines that are growing more technically proficient. Here are the soft skills Gen Z members need to succeed: Be an effective strategic communicator Some employers fear that digital native workers might be too much like the robots they are competing with. What will make Gen Z workers stand out? Good communication skills. Those in technology fields often work remotely or in relative isolation, so they do not always get enough time to sharpen their interpersonal skills, said Jason Wingard, dean, and professor of the school of professional studies at Columbia University. There is a way for young people to train for that skill, though, added Vicki Walia, chief talent and capability officer at financial services giant Prudential. "Gen Zs should not under-emphasize the importance of relationship building, listening, communicating, working collaboratively,” Walia said. One way to do this is through mentorship. Young workers should work to form relationships with older colleagues or even engage in "reverse mentorships," helping an older worker learn a new technology skill. Last year, Russell Bingham, a senior engineering major, participated in the clinic program at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, which partners student teams with companies. The interactions were “eye-opening,” Bingham said, making him find better ways to interact with colleagues. Be a continuous learner While most of Generation Z is still in school, they already need to think about how to continually adapt to a fast-changing world. Their advantage, said Walia, is that they are “digitally capable and multidimensional.” To succeed, they must be pragmatic and realistic about their skills and how desired skillsets will change. For example, Walia said graduates might be trained in Microsoft Excel, but a job might require them to learn how to interpret that data. "Storytelling skills are an important part of being able to help others interpret the data, and use it to tell a story through data visualization," Walia said. More industry knowledge also equals more money up to $6,387 more a year in salary in a high-wage industry according to a study the MIT-IBM Watson AI lab did between 2010 and 2017. Find work that gives you a sense of purpose Nearly half of the Gen Zs said they had experienced job burnout in the past year, according to a survey by ServiceNow, a Santa Clara, California cloud computing company. Half said they were considering a job outside their current industry because of it. Workers are at their best when doing something meaningful to them, said Obed Louissaint, vice president of talent at IBM. To avoid burnout, young people should couple finding purpose with taking proper mental breaks and trying to build healthy habits, Louissaint added. Harvey Mudd student Bingham, for instance, is looking for a job that lets him apply his science and engineering skills to projects with societal impact. He recently worked as part of the expedition team that located the HMS Urge submarine after it was lost at sea for 77 years. "That experience has led me to strongly value the fact that my unique robotics skill set can be an asset to people and projects totally outside the direct development of robots," Bingham said.

How can Generation Z compete with robots? Focus on the human touch

India's IT hub Bengaluru is hosting the 22nd edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit, this year robots are in the limelight.

Robots attract eyeballs at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2019

As the United States races to put humans back on the moon for the first time in nearly 50 years, a NASA-funded lab in Colorado aims to launch robots there first to build telescopes that will look far into our galaxy and remotely operated by astronauts.

NASA lab aims to put robots on moon before humans go

NASA lab wants to put robots on the moon

Robots are expected to take over some 20 million manufacturing jobs worldwide by 2030, extending a trend of worsening social inequality while boosting overall economic output, a new study shows.

The forecast set to be released Wednesday highlights growing concerns that automation and robots, while offering economic benefits, are disproportionately killing low-skill jobs and aggravating social and economic stress.

The study by Oxford Economics, private British-based research and consulting firm, said job displacement from the rise of robots will not be evenly spread around the world, or within countries.

Robots have already taken over millions of manufacturing jobs and are now gaining in services, helped by advances in computer vision, speech recognition and machine learning, the study noted.

In lower-skilled regions, job losses will be twice as high as those in higher-skilled regions, even in the same country, the study concluded.

The research comes amid intense debate on the rise of technologies such as self-driving cars and trucks, robotic food preparation and automated factory and warehouse operations and their impact on employment.

Many analysts point out that automation has generally led to more job creation than it destroys, but that in recent years the trend has created a skills gap that leaves out many workers.

According to the latest study, the current wave of "robotisation" is likely ultimately to boost productivity and economic growth, generating roughly as many new jobs as it destroys.

At the high end of the forecast, the researchers see a $5 trillion "robotics dividend" for the global economy by 2030 from higher productivity.

"We found that jobs, where repetitive functions are required, are most affected, with those such as warehouse work at imminent risk," the authors wrote.

"Jobs in less structured environments and which demand compassion, creativity or social intelligence are likely to be carried out by humans for decades to come."

It added that "robots will increasingly play in sectors including retail, healthcare, hospitality, and transport as well as construction and farming."

The impact will be uneven depending on the country and regions within each country, the study said.

"Automation will continue to drive regional polarization in many advanced economies -- and this trend will intensify as automation spreads to services," the authors wrote.

But they cautioned against policymakers acting to slow the adoption of robotic technology.

"Instead the focus should be to use the robotics dividend to help those in vulnerable regions ready themselves for the major upheaval ahead," they wrote.&nbsp;

"Preparing for and responding to the social impacts of automation will be the defining challenge of the next decade." 
&nbsp;

Robots are expected to take over some 20 million manufacturing jobs worldwide by 2030, extending a trend of worsening social inequality while boosting overall economic output, a new study shows.

Robots are expected to take over some 20 million manufacturing jobs worldwide by 2030, extending a trend of worsening social inequality while boosting overall economic output, a new study shows. The forecast set to be released Wednesday highlights growing concerns that automation and robots, while offering economic benefits, are disproportionately killing low-skill jobs and aggravating social and economic stress. The study by Oxford Economics, private British-based research and consulting firm, said job displacement from the rise of robots will not be evenly spread around the world, or within countries. Robots have already taken over millions of manufacturing jobs and are now gaining in services, helped by advances in computer vision, speech recognition and machine learning, the study noted. In lower-skilled regions, job losses will be twice as high as those in higher-skilled regions, even in the same country, the study concluded. The research comes amid intense debate on the rise of technologies such as self-driving cars and trucks, robotic food preparation and automated factory and warehouse operations and their impact on employment. Many analysts point out that automation has generally led to more job creation than it destroys, but that in recent years the trend has created a skills gap that leaves out many workers. According to the latest study, the current wave of "robotisation" is likely ultimately to boost productivity and economic growth, generating roughly as many new jobs as it destroys. At the high end of the forecast, the researchers see a $5 trillion "robotics dividend" for the global economy by 2030 from higher productivity. "We found that jobs, where repetitive functions are required, are most affected, with those such as warehouse work at imminent risk," the authors wrote. "Jobs in less structured environments and which demand compassion, creativity or social intelligence are likely to be carried out by humans for decades to come." It added that "robots will increasingly play in sectors including retail, healthcare, hospitality, and transport as well as construction and farming." The impact will be uneven depending on the country and regions within each country, the study said. "Automation will continue to drive regional polarization in many advanced economies -- and this trend will intensify as automation spreads to services," the authors wrote. But they cautioned against policymakers acting to slow the adoption of robotic technology. "Instead the focus should be to use the robotics dividend to help those in vulnerable regions ready themselves for the major upheaval ahead," they wrote. "Preparing for and responding to the social impacts of automation will be the defining challenge of the next decade."

Robots to take 20 million jobs, worsening inequality: Study

As the year 2018 draws to a close, it’s time to look at major technological advances that made the lives of humans easier.

The highlight was the rise of robots. Robots can now do all those things that were once limited to only sci-fi movies. 2018 has made high-tech, functional robots a real thing and their capabilities are endless.

Sophia, the humanoid robot, made headlines this year. She demonstrated her ability to smile mischievously, bat her eyelids, and crack a joke. Designed by Hong Kong firm Hanson Robotics, Sophia can express her emotions through several facial expressions.

Robots are not just taking the human shape and form, some fear they will take away human jobs. In 2018, various restaurants around the world employed them in their kitchens; they worked as waiters and chefs taking orders, cooking food, and even serving customers.

These machines are also able to help people shop. Omron is one such robot, which has been programmed to glide around a supermarket, pick items and place them into a basket.

Robots are not just limited to confined areas, they can even move around in the streets and deliver goods at your doorsteps. And such delivery robots are now gaining popularity.

And not just work, 2018 saw the emergence of entertainment robots as well who danced, and put on music.

Taking the technological advancement a step further, some of the robots have been designed to work as caregivers.

The year showcased that there is no end to what robots can do.

They even took the centrestage in newsrooms. China’s Xinhua news agency launched an AI-powered news presenter which looks like a human. The news agency claimed the robot learns from live videos and can work 24 hours a day.

And not just news presenters, they are being created to replace teachers as well. Robot teachers are now invading kindergartens.

China also hosted the World Robot Conference this year which had robots which can diagnose diseases, play badminton and wow audiences with their musical skills.

But the popular stars were the small, amateur-made "battle bots" which smashed, hammered and sawed their way through their opponents to a cacophony of cheers and shouts from a rapt audience.

Technological advancement has also made advent of more sophisticated “killer robots”.

These giant fighter robots can take each other on. They are heavily-armed and can switch to modern weapons as well.

While “killer robots” inch close to reality, other robots have left planet earth and are making space, their new home.

Cimon is a robot that can freely float in zero gravity. A video of this tiny robot interacting with astronaut Alexander Gerst in the International Space Station became very popular.

Artificial intelligence has taken robots to another orbit proving that even the sky is no limit.

As the year 2018 draws to a close, it’s time to look at major technological advances that made the lives of humans easier. The highlight was the rise of robots. Robots can now do all those things that were once limited to only sci-fi movies.

As the year 2018 draws to a close, it’s time to look at major technological advances that made the lives of humans easier. The highlight was the rise of robots. Robots can now do all those things that were once limited to only sci-fi movies. 2018 has made high-tech, functional robots a real thing and their capabilities are endless. Sophia, the humanoid robot, made headlines this year. She demonstrated her ability to smile mischievously, bat her eyelids, and crack a joke. Designed by Hong Kong firm Hanson Robotics, Sophia can express her emotions through several facial expressions. Robots are not just taking the human shape and form, some fear they will take away human jobs. In 2018, various restaurants around the world employed them in their kitchens; they worked as waiters and chefs taking orders, cooking food, and even serving customers. These machines are also able to help people shop. Omron is one such robot, which has been programmed to glide around a supermarket, pick items and place them into a basket. Robots are not just limited to confined areas, they can even move around in the streets and deliver goods at your doorsteps. And such delivery robots are now gaining popularity. And not just work, 2018 saw the emergence of entertainment robots as well who danced, and put on music. Taking the technological advancement a step further, some of the robots have been designed to work as caregivers. The year showcased that there is no end to what robots can do. They even took the centrestage in newsrooms. China’s Xinhua news agency launched an AI-powered news presenter which looks like a human. The news agency claimed the robot learns from live videos and can work 24 hours a day. And not just news presenters, they are being created to replace teachers as well. Robot teachers are now invading kindergartens. China also hosted the World Robot Conference this year which had robots which can diagnose diseases, play badminton and wow audiences with their musical skills. But the popular stars were the small, amateur-made "battle bots" which smashed, hammered and sawed their way through their opponents to a cacophony of cheers and shouts from a rapt audience. Technological advancement has also made advent of more sophisticated “killer robots”. These giant fighter robots can take each other on. They are heavily-armed and can switch to modern weapons as well. While “killer robots” inch close to reality, other robots have left planet earth and are making space, their new home. Cimon is a robot that can freely float in zero gravity. A video of this tiny robot interacting with astronaut Alexander Gerst in the International Space Station became very popular. Artificial intelligence has taken robots to another orbit proving that even the sky is no limit.

2018 showcased there is no end to what robots can do

Locally made robots wait tables at Kathmandu restaurant

According to reports, as many as 10,000 Citibank employees may lose jobs in the next five years as the company braces up to introduce automation and replace workers with robots.&nbsp;

Jamie Forese, Citibank's chief executive officer, Institutional Clients Group, notes that the company's technological and operational positions are most apt for mechanical processing.

Forese told the Financial Times that the company would slash up to half of its operational positions, however, it would continue to hire people for sales and research roles.&nbsp;

This is not the first time when an incident of robots and machines replacing manpower has surfaced, a Boston restaurant has already replaced staff with robots to serve&nbsp;nutritious, affordable meals.&nbsp;

A group of engineers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) collaborated with Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud to bring to reality a one-of-a-kind restaurant that has replaced human staff with robots.&nbsp;

The co-founders note that as students they struggled to find decent meals at affordable prices. As robotics enthusiasts, they decided to work for creating meals that are cooked efficiently, quick to put together and affordable.&nbsp;

Robotics and technological innovations are set to eat up jobs in the coming future, as many as 800 million jobs in the coming decade, experts speculate.&nbsp;

This is not the first time when an incident of robots and machines replacing manpower has surfaced

According to reports, as many as 10,000 Citibank employees may lose jobs in the next five years as the company braces up to introduce automation and replace workers with robots. Jamie Forese, Citibank's chief executive officer, Institutional Clients Group, notes that the company's technological and operational positions are most apt for mechanical processing. Forese told the Financial Times that the company would slash up to half of its operational positions, however, it would continue to hire people for sales and research roles. This is not the first time when an incident of robots and machines replacing manpower has surfaced, a Boston restaurant has already replaced staff with robots to serve nutritious, affordable meals. A group of engineers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) collaborated with Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud to bring to reality a one-of-a-kind restaurant that has replaced human staff with robots. The co-founders note that as students they struggled to find decent meals at affordable prices. As robotics enthusiasts, they decided to work for creating meals that are cooked efficiently, quick to put together and affordable. Robotics and technological innovations are set to eat up jobs in the coming future, as many as 800 million jobs in the coming decade, experts speculate.

Nearly 10,000 Citibank employees to lose jobs as bank plans to introduce robots

Undeniably, the world is slowly been taken over by machines. A Boston-based restaurant proves the same by deploying a number of robots for whipping up meals.&nbsp;

A group of engineers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) collaborated with Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud to bring to reality a one-of-a-kind restaurant that has replaced human staff with robots.&nbsp;

After the orders are collected, raw ingredients are portioned and dropped into a box from where the food items are transferred to seven robotic woks that further mix the ingredients and cook.

The cooking process roughly takes around 2-3 minutes. After the robots are done with&nbsp;cooking, they enter a wash cycle and prepare for the next batch. The restaurant,&nbsp;which is called Spyce, is described as "the world's first restaurant featuring a robotic kitchen that cooks complex meals".

The cost per meal starts from around $7. Co-founders note that as students they struggled to find decent meals at affordable prices. As robotics enthusiasts, they decided to work for creating meals that are cooked&nbsp;efficiently, quick to put together and affordable.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9LqqcDL99UA" width="560"></iframe>

"We create a prototype that proved that we could build something that could create delicious food," Brady Knight, co-founder and lead electrical engineer noted.&nbsp;

"The robotic kitchen brings together precision, consistency, taste and also freshness to the preparation," shared Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud who also stated that he was thrilled and very curious about the project at first and immediately flew to Boston to meet the team.&nbsp;

The team has kept the menu simple, vegetable-centric involving rice, chicken, vegetables and spices. Induction-cooking is used as the mode to prepare the meals through a system that efficiently controls the temperature.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

A group of engineers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) collaborated with Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud to bring to reality a one-of-a-kind restaurant

Undeniably, the world is slowly been taken over by machines. A Boston-based restaurant proves the same by deploying a number of robots for whipping up meals. A group of engineers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) collaborated with Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud to bring to reality a one-of-a-kind restaurant that has replaced human staff with robots. After the orders are collected, raw ingredients are portioned and dropped into a box from where the food items are transferred to seven robotic woks that further mix the ingredients and cook. The cooking process roughly takes around 2-3 minutes. After the robots are done with cooking, they enter a wash cycle and prepare for the next batch. The restaurant, which is called Spyce, is described as "the world's first restaurant featuring a robotic kitchen that cooks complex meals". The cost per meal starts from around $7. Co-founders note that as students they struggled to find decent meals at affordable prices. As robotics enthusiasts, they decided to work for creating meals that are cooked efficiently, quick to put together and affordable. "We create a prototype that proved that we could build something that could create delicious food," Brady Knight, co-founder and lead electrical engineer noted. "The robotic kitchen brings together precision, consistency, taste and also freshness to the preparation," shared Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud who also stated that he was thrilled and very curious about the project at first and immediately flew to Boston to meet the team. The team has kept the menu simple, vegetable-centric involving rice, chicken, vegetables and spices. Induction-cooking is used as the mode to prepare the meals through a system that efficiently controls the temperature.

Watch: Boston restaurant replaces staff with robots; serves nutritious, affordable meals

By Fabrizio Carmignani*

Research shows women are better positioned than men to resist the automation of work and possibly even benefit from it.

Women are overrepresented in industries that require high levels of social skills and empathy (such as nursing, teaching and care work), where it would be difficult to replace a human worker with automation. Women in advanced economies also have, on average, higher levels of education and digital literacy, giving them a comparative advantage in a labour market that is continuously transformed by technological innovation.

The fear that robots could one day wipe out most of human labour is likely unjustified, as discussed in several studies. In fact, the risk of digitalisation varies considerably across jobs, depending on what tasks and skills are involved.

For instance, jobs that involve physical work for longer or using fingers or hands are at a significantly higher risk of digitalisation than jobs that involve presenting to or training others. Similarly, jobs that require literacy and problem solving are at lower risk than jobs that require numeracy.

The economics of ‘women’s work’ and automation

Technological innovation, of which automation is a form, changes the way in which work is organised and performed across different economic sectors.

Typically, this process has resulted in a progressive shift from unskilled to skilled labour, with the former becoming more casual and disposable. At the same time, new technologies have opened up opportunities for flexible work arrangements, distance learning and training, and networking.

As a result of this transformation, certain professions that traditionally had more women (for example clerical and service occupations) grew in size, thus increasing opportunities for female employment.

While automation could also threaten jobs in other sectors with high female participation (for example assembly type manufacturing or labour-intensive agriculture), historically the effect of innovation in the work sector seems to have increased demand for female labour and participation.

Nowadays, the interaction between technological and societal changes plays a critical role. Shifts in the wage structure (for example higher demand and hence higher wages for skilled labour) combined with women attaining higher levels of education and changing marital choices, make participation in the labour force both easier and more attractive to a larger number of women. This is particularly the case in more economically developed countries.

Overall, the economic argument suggests that while some sectors where a lot of women work might be vulnerable to digitalisation, women are, in general, at lower risk than men and could in fact benefit from an increase in employment opportunities.

The evidence is in the data

Estimating the impact of automation on female labour participation is not an easy task. In particular, it is difficult to isolate this impact from other factors that determine participation. So, early research on this tends to rely on qualitative analysis of specific case studies.

More recently, advances in research methods and data availability have led to assessments which confirm the potential benefits of automation for female participation and employment.

The main caveat here is that often this research refers to the United States and/or a relatively small group of advanced (OECD) countries.

For instance, a 2016 study points to the fact that technological progress in the household sector is a key driver of the observed increase in married female labour force participation in the US. This is not just an improvement in appliances, but also the fact that many women do not need to stay home to raise their children. It also takes into account a change in the way we do things at home (for example frozen or delivered meals as opposed to cooked meals that take hours to prepare).

Along similar lines, an OECD study, also published in 2016, shows that after controlling for a variety of factors, the risk of jobs becoming automated is significantly lower for women than it is for men.

Another very recent contribution compares the risk of digitalisation of jobs across eight advanced economies (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Japan, and Korea). Two main conclusions emerge from the data.

First, women are at no higher risk than men and often they are at lower risk. The only exception is Japan, where the risk of digitalisation for men is significantly lower.

Second, low-skilled occupations are generally most at risk. However, within these occupations, women face a significantly lower risk than men (again with the only exception of Japan, where the risk in low-skilled occupations is practically the same for men and women).

This is because, in advanced economies, women tend to be employed in occupations that require high levels of social competence and empathy (for example nursing professions) and are therefore more resistant to automation than other lower-skills occupations such as machine operators or assembly line workers.

Far from destroying all jobs, automation seems to be changing occupations in a way that benefits women more than men. This does not mean that automation alone will eliminate any form of gender gap in the labour market. However, it does mean that women have less to fear than men, and probably more to benefit, from the advent of robots.

*(Fabrizio Carmignani is a professor at Griffith Business School, Griffith University in Australia)

(This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com/global">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/women-are-less-likely-to-be-replaced-by-robots-and-might-even-benefit-from-automation-96728">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Nowadays, the interaction between technological and societal changes plays a critical role.

By Fabrizio Carmignani* Research shows women are better positioned than men to resist the automation of work and possibly even benefit from it. Women are overrepresented in industries that require high levels of social skills and empathy (such as nursing, teaching and care work), where it would be difficult to replace a human worker with automation. Women in advanced economies also have, on average, higher levels of education and digital literacy, giving them a comparative advantage in a labour market that is continuously transformed by technological innovation. The fear that robots could one day wipe out most of human labour is likely unjustified, as discussed in several studies. In fact, the risk of digitalisation varies considerably across jobs, depending on what tasks and skills are involved. For instance, jobs that involve physical work for longer or using fingers or hands are at a significantly higher risk of digitalisation than jobs that involve presenting to or training others. Similarly, jobs that require literacy and problem solving are at lower risk than jobs that require numeracy. The economics of ‘women’s work’ and automation Technological innovation, of which automation is a form, changes the way in which work is organised and performed across different economic sectors. Typically, this process has resulted in a progressive shift from unskilled to skilled labour, with the former becoming more casual and disposable. At the same time, new technologies have opened up opportunities for flexible work arrangements, distance learning and training, and networking. As a result of this transformation, certain professions that traditionally had more women (for example clerical and service occupations) grew in size, thus increasing opportunities for female employment. While automation could also threaten jobs in other sectors with high female participation (for example assembly type manufacturing or labour-intensive agriculture), historically the effect of innovation in the work sector seems to have increased demand for female labour and participation. Nowadays, the interaction between technological and societal changes plays a critical role. Shifts in the wage structure (for example higher demand and hence higher wages for skilled labour) combined with women attaining higher levels of education and changing marital choices, make participation in the labour force both easier and more attractive to a larger number of women. This is particularly the case in more economically developed countries. Overall, the economic argument suggests that while some sectors where a lot of women work might be vulnerable to digitalisation, women are, in general, at lower risk than men and could in fact benefit from an increase in employment opportunities. The evidence is in the data Estimating the impact of automation on female labour participation is not an easy task. In particular, it is difficult to isolate this impact from other factors that determine participation. So, early research on this tends to rely on qualitative analysis of specific case studies. More recently, advances in research methods and data availability have led to assessments which confirm the potential benefits of automation for female participation and employment. The main caveat here is that often this research refers to the United States and/or a relatively small group of advanced (OECD) countries. For instance, a 2016 study points to the fact that technological progress in the household sector is a key driver of the observed increase in married female labour force participation in the US. This is not just an improvement in appliances, but also the fact that many women do not need to stay home to raise their children. It also takes into account a change in the way we do things at home (for example frozen or delivered meals as opposed to cooked meals that take hours to prepare). Along similar lines, an OECD study, also published in 2016, shows that after controlling for a variety of factors, the risk of jobs becoming automated is significantly lower for women than it is for men. Another very recent contribution compares the risk of digitalisation of jobs across eight advanced economies (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Japan, and Korea). Two main conclusions emerge from the data. First, women are at no higher risk than men and often they are at lower risk. The only exception is Japan, where the risk of digitalisation for men is significantly lower. Second, low-skilled occupations are generally most at risk. However, within these occupations, women face a significantly lower risk than men (again with the only exception of Japan, where the risk in low-skilled occupations is practically the same for men and women). This is because, in advanced economies, women tend to be employed in occupations that require high levels of social competence and empathy (for example nursing professions) and are therefore more resistant to automation than other lower-skills occupations such as machine operators or assembly line workers. Far from destroying all jobs, automation seems to be changing occupations in a way that benefits women more than men. This does not mean that automation alone will eliminate any form of gender gap in the labour market. However, it does mean that women have less to fear than men, and probably more to benefit, from the advent of robots. *(Fabrizio Carmignani is a professor at Griffith Business School, Griffith University in Australia) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why women are less likely to be replaced by robots

Winter Olympics is already underway, PyeongChang, South Korea is hosting the 23rd Olympic Winter Games.

It is a major international multi-sport event and&nbsp;athletes have come from all over the world to participate in the winter games.

Many athletes&nbsp;have already claimed their medals but now some&nbsp;unexpected participants have arrived to&nbsp;increase the competition.

South Korea is using the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics to show off its prowess in robotics technology.

The robots are taking part in various games like skiing etc,&nbsp;and also provide assistance to the visitors. The ministry said 11 kinds of&nbsp;robots&nbsp;are being used.

South Korea&#39;s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said 85&nbsp;robots&nbsp;would be distributed across venues providing information about sports schedules and transport, cleaning as well as improving the appearance of the Games.

The organisers of the upcoming Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic games had already warned spectators that they will face sub-zero temperatures during the tournament but these robots are not freezing.

Robot fish with segmented bodies and flashing lights course back and forth in tanks at the main press centre, an automatic vacuum-cleaning robot the size of a washing machine works its way around the same centre and a painting robot prints a whole wall of murals on Olympic stadiums in a few passes.

&nbsp;

South Korea is using the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics to show off its robotics skills and technology

Winter Olympics is already underway, PyeongChang, South Korea is hosting the 23rd Olympic Winter Games. It is a major international multi-sport event and athletes have come from all over the world to participate in the winter games. Many athletes have already claimed their medals but now some unexpected participants have arrived to increase the competition. South Korea is using the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics to show off its prowess in robotics technology. The robots are taking part in various games like skiing etc, and also provide assistance to the visitors. The ministry said 11 kinds of robots are being used. South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said 85 robots would be distributed across venues providing information about sports schedules and transport, cleaning as well as improving the appearance of the Games. The organisers of the upcoming Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic games had already warned spectators that they will face sub-zero temperatures during the tournament but these robots are not freezing. Robot fish with segmented bodies and flashing lights course back and forth in tanks at the main press centre, an automatic vacuum-cleaning robot the size of a washing machine works its way around the same centre and a painting robot prints a whole wall of murals on Olympic stadiums in a few passes.

Watch: Pyeongchang winter robots Olympics

Honda has launched a new robotics program called 3E Concept and has unveiled the new robot called Forpheus which can read body language to gather one&#39;s ability, and offer advice and encouragement.

Honda launched four new robotics demonstrations on Tuesday at Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas which are united under one banner: 3E Concept.

3E stands for Empower, Experience and Empathy, which the Japanese automaker sees as the three ways robotics can enhance our daily lives.

Its new 3E-A18 robot, Forpheus, which &quot;shows compassion to humans with a variety of facial expressions,&quot; was also present at the CES.

&quot;It will try to understand your mood and your playing ability and predict a bit about your next shot,&quot; said Keith Kersten of Japan-based Omron Automation, which developed Forpheus to showcase its technology.

&quot;We don&#39;t sell ping pong robots but we are using Forpheus to show how the technology works with people,&quot; said Kersten.

&quot;He has a complex brain. It will ask for a caress or it will get mad if you poke him in the eye,&quot; Jean-Michel Mourier of French-based Blue Frog Robotics, which makes the companion and social robot called Buddy, set to be released later this year.

The A18 has a round egg-shaped head witch smooth exterior which &quot;invites people to touch or hug the robot.&quot;

The A18&#39;s purpose is to support people by serving as a guide in public places or giving comfort, like a service dog, to humans in distress, reports said.

Forpheus is among several devices shown at this week&#39;s Consumer Electronics Show which highlight how robots can become more humanlike by acquiring &quot;emotional intelligence&quot; and empathy.&nbsp;

The A18's purpose is to support people by serving as a guide in public places or giving comfort, like a service dog, to humans in distress, reports said

Honda has launched a new robotics program called 3E Concept and has unveiled the new robot called Forpheus which can read body language to gather one's ability, and offer advice and encouragement. Honda launched four new robotics demonstrations on Tuesday at Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas which are united under one banner: 3E Concept. 3E stands for Empower, Experience and Empathy, which the Japanese automaker sees as the three ways robotics can enhance our daily lives. Its new 3E-A18 robot, Forpheus, which "shows compassion to humans with a variety of facial expressions," was also present at the CES. "It will try to understand your mood and your playing ability and predict a bit about your next shot," said Keith Kersten of Japan-based Omron Automation, which developed Forpheus to showcase its technology. "We don't sell ping pong robots but we are using Forpheus to show how the technology works with people," said Kersten. "He has a complex brain. It will ask for a caress or it will get mad if you poke him in the eye," Jean-Michel Mourier of French-based Blue Frog Robotics, which makes the companion and social robot called Buddy, set to be released later this year. The A18 has a round egg-shaped head witch smooth exterior which "invites people to touch or hug the robot." The A18's purpose is to support people by serving as a guide in public places or giving comfort, like a service dog, to humans in distress, reports said. Forpheus is among several devices shown at this week's Consumer Electronics Show which highlight how robots can become more humanlike by acquiring "emotional intelligence" and empathy.

Honda unveils new 'emotional' robot which reads human feelings

Researchers who warned half a dozen&nbsp;robot&nbsp;manufacturers in January about nearly 50 vulnerabilities in their home, business and industrial&nbsp;robots, say only a few of the problems have been addressed.

The researchers, Cesar Cerrudo and Lucas Apa of cybersecurity firm IOActive, said the vulnerabilities would allow hackers to spy on users, disable safety features and make&nbsp;robots lurch and move violently, putting users and bystanders in danger.

While they say there are no signs that hackers have exploited the vulnerabilities, they say the fact that the&nbsp;robots were hacked so easily and the manufacturers&#39; lack of response raise questions about allowing&nbsp;robots in homes, offices and factories.

&quot;Our research shows proof that even non-military&nbsp;robots could be weaponized to cause harm,&quot; Apa said in an interview.

&quot;These&nbsp;robots don&#39;t use bullets or explosives, but microphones, cameras, arms and legs. The difference is that they will be soon around us and we need to secure them now before it&#39;s too late.&quot;

Some of the&nbsp;robot&nbsp;manufacturers defended themselves, saying they had fixed some or all of the issues raised.

Apa&#39;s comments come in the wake of a letter signed by more than 100 leading&nbsp;robotic experts urging the United Nations to ban the development of killer military&nbsp;robots, or autonomous weapons.

Apa, a senior security consultant, said that of the six manufacturers contacted, only one, RethinkRobotics, said some of the problems had been fixed. He said he had not been able to confirm that as his team does not have access to that particular&nbsp;robot.

A spokesman for Rethink&nbsp;Robotics, which makes the Baxter and Sawyer assembly-line&nbsp;robots, said all but two issues - in the education and research versions of its&nbsp;robots - had been fixed.

Apa said a review of updates from the other five manufacturers - Universal&nbsp;Robots of Denmark, SoftBank&nbsp;Robotics and Asratec Corp of Japan, Ubtech of China, and&nbsp;Robotis Inc of South Korea - led him to believe none of the issues he had raised had been fixed.

Asratec said that software released for its&nbsp;robots so far was limited to &quot;hobby use sample programs&quot;, and it believed IOActive was pointing to security vulnerabilities in those. Software it planned to release for commercial use would be different, it said.

SoftBank&nbsp;Robotics said it had already identified the vulnerabilities and fixed them. Ubtech said it had &quot;fully addressed any concerns raised by IoActive that do not limit our developers from programming&quot; their&nbsp;robots.

Universal&nbsp;Robots did not respond to emailed requests for comment.&nbsp;Robotis Inc declined to comment.

The slow reaction by the&nbsp;robot&nbsp;industry was not surprising, said Joshua Ziering, founder of Kittyhawk.io, a commercial drone software company. &quot;A new technology bursts on to the market and people fail to secure it,&quot; he said.

Cybersecurity experts said the&nbsp;robot&nbsp;vulnerabilities were alarming, and cyber criminals could use them to disrupt factories by ransomware attacks, or with&nbsp;robots slowed down or forced to embed flaws in the products they are programmed to build.

&quot;The potential impact to companies, and even countries, could be massive,&quot; said Nathan Wenzler, chief security strategist at AsTech, a San Francisco-based security consulting company, &quot;should an attacker exploit the vulnerability within the applications that control these&nbsp;robots.&quot;

Even in the home, danger lurks, said Apa, demonstrating how a 17-inch (43.18 cm) tall Alpha 2robot&nbsp;from Ubtech could be programmed to violently jab a screwdriver.

&quot;Maybe it&#39;s small and it&#39;s not really going to hurt right now, but the trend is that the&nbsp;robots are going to be more powerful,&quot; he said. &quot;We tested industrial ones which are really heavy and powerful, and some of the attacks work with them.&quot;

Apa and Cerrudo released their initial findings in January.

This week, they released details about the specific vulnerabilities they found, including one case where they mix several of those vulnerabilities together to hijack a Universal&nbsp;Robot&nbsp;factory&nbsp;robot, making it lurch about and be a potential threat.

"Our research shows proof that even non-military robots could be weaponized to cause harm," Lucas Apa said in an interview

Researchers who warned half a dozen robot manufacturers in January about nearly 50 vulnerabilities in their home, business and industrial robots, say only a few of the problems have been addressed. The researchers, Cesar Cerrudo and Lucas Apa of cybersecurity firm IOActive, said the vulnerabilities would allow hackers to spy on users, disable safety features and make robots lurch and move violently, putting users and bystanders in danger. While they say there are no signs that hackers have exploited the vulnerabilities, they say the fact that the robots were hacked so easily and the manufacturers' lack of response raise questions about allowing robots in homes, offices and factories. "Our research shows proof that even non-military robots could be weaponized to cause harm," Apa said in an interview. "These robots don't use bullets or explosives, but microphones, cameras, arms and legs. The difference is that they will be soon around us and we need to secure them now before it's too late." Some of the robot manufacturers defended themselves, saying they had fixed some or all of the issues raised. Apa's comments come in the wake of a letter signed by more than 100 leading robotic experts urging the United Nations to ban the development of killer military robots, or autonomous weapons. Apa, a senior security consultant, said that of the six manufacturers contacted, only one, RethinkRobotics, said some of the problems had been fixed. He said he had not been able to confirm that as his team does not have access to that particular robot. A spokesman for Rethink Robotics, which makes the Baxter and Sawyer assembly-line robots, said all but two issues - in the education and research versions of its robots - had been fixed. Apa said a review of updates from the other five manufacturers - Universal Robots of Denmark, SoftBank Robotics and Asratec Corp of Japan, Ubtech of China, and Robotis Inc of South Korea - led him to believe none of the issues he had raised had been fixed. Asratec said that software released for its robots so far was limited to "hobby use sample programs", and it believed IOActive was pointing to security vulnerabilities in those. Software it planned to release for commercial use would be different, it said. SoftBank Robotics said it had already identified the vulnerabilities and fixed them. Ubtech said it had "fully addressed any concerns raised by IoActive that do not limit our developers from programming" their robots. Universal Robots did not respond to emailed requests for comment. Robotis Inc declined to comment. The slow reaction by the robot industry was not surprising, said Joshua Ziering, founder of Kittyhawk.io, a commercial drone software company. "A new technology bursts on to the market and people fail to secure it," he said. Cybersecurity experts said the robot vulnerabilities were alarming, and cyber criminals could use them to disrupt factories by ransomware attacks, or with robots slowed down or forced to embed flaws in the products they are programmed to build. "The potential impact to companies, and even countries, could be massive," said Nathan Wenzler, chief security strategist at AsTech, a San Francisco-based security consulting company, "should an attacker exploit the vulnerability within the applications that control these robots." Even in the home, danger lurks, said Apa, demonstrating how a 17-inch (43.18 cm) tall Alpha 2robot from Ubtech could be programmed to violently jab a screwdriver. "Maybe it's small and it's not really going to hurt right now, but the trend is that the robots are going to be more powerful," he said. "We tested industrial ones which are really heavy and powerful, and some of the attacks work with them." Apa and Cerrudo released their initial findings in January. This week, they released details about the specific vulnerabilities they found, including one case where they mix several of those vulnerabilities together to hijack a Universal Robot factory robot, making it lurch about and be a potential threat.

Robots in homes, offices can be hacked: Study

This is the decade of automation, with machines making our work easier than before and in some cases, robots even replacing people at farms and manufacturing units. Pick any one industry and it is easy to imagine a world in which machines outrun humans. Martin Ford, author of the book &lsquo;Rise of the Robots&rsquo;, talks about a not-so-distant future when robots programmed using algorithms and advanced technology become more efficient than humans. Although data on job losses due to automation is still sketchy, the world that Ford foresees is still a possibility. It must also be noted that so far, most technology-driven agents are not fully autonomous and need human intervention.

<h3>The best examples of the kind are Roomba, which became famous for vacuuming the floor in no time, or Siri, which guides us through almost everything, even a heartache with its witty responses.</h3>

&nbsp;

Here are some jobs that robots can do, and for which, the world might not need humans:

<h2>Astronauts</h2>

NASA and General Motors have come together to make Robonaut 2. The machine will have an array of sensors and will be capable of handling small jobs like cleaning the space station and assisting humans in space. But there are talks of making it capable of venturing out in space to conduct scientific research.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pJVn7yLz4Lw" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Babysitters</h2>

Recently, Aeon Co., a major Japanese retailer, introduced a four-foot-tall robot at a store to babysit children while the adults shop. There are, however, other models also, like the Hello Kitty robot which tells jokes, quizzes, and tracks kids using a radio-frequency identification chip.

<h2>Drivers</h2>

Several major technology companies have announced their interest in launching driverless cars that will be safe and effective at the same time. These are being developed with the aim of making driving easier and error free. Google has tested seven cars with human supervisors. The cars have driven 1,000 miles without human intervention and more than 140,000 miles with only occasional human control.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AeHtU6uOI1U" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Lawyers and Paralegals</h2>

A lawyer would take much longer time than a robot to read through documents and review them. A machine can do all this in a fraction of that time and at a much lower cost. Most popular law firms feel that this is a boon for the industry as people have a tendency of tiring, while a machine can continue working for much, much longer.

<h2>Pharmacist</h2>

It is quite possible to imagine a robot as a pharmacist. Behind the counter, machines can analyse documents, fill out prescriptions and handle other such tasks. The UCSF Medical Center launched an automated, robotics-controlled pharmacy at two of its hospitals. Once they receive orders for medications, the robots pick, package and dispense pills without any error. So far, they have been successful in preparing 350,000 doses perfectly.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xr0vVc6JnW0" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Reporters</h2>

Even reporters of today face a risk of losing their jobs to robots. There is a software developed by Northwestern University, which is being used by Fox Cable for baseball and softball coverage as it is cheaper and easier to have a machine multi-task rather than having several reporters at one event. After the game is over, the software collects all data, emails it to the data centre, which comes out with a story in minutes. There is also the story of Xiao Nan robot from China. The robot reporter recently wrote a 300-characters-long article in just one second. Also in comparison to staff writers, robots have stronger data analysis capacity and are quicker at writing stories.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xHRURWOiCQw" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Rescuers</h2>

Robots can reach areas that are inaccessible to humans and provide crucial help in rescuing victims from natural disasters. There are currently various prototypes, out of which there is a snake-like robot that can enter tight spaces and use a camera to survey the surrounding area. There are also aerial drones that can conduct inspections or ROV&rsquo;s, which can help locate underwater objects and determine the condition of bridges and pipelines.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HxHufRiysYw" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Soldiers</h2>

Security and surveillance systems are likely to be a major frontier for automation. While robots are not replacing soldiers altogether any time soon, we do have drones and surveillance systems that can monitor, track and direct security missions. One example is MAARS (Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System), which provides armed robots in Iraq. These robots have GPS monitors which can be programmed to differentiate between fire and no-fire zones, open doors, and even drag out injured bodies.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bczvYHcSu98" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Store clerks</h2>

The easiest target for a robot would be the job of a store clerk. Companies are always working out ways of keeping less staff, so as to maximise profits, and robots might come handy in this. Robots can answer telephones, can communicate, can provide virtual assistance and ensure self-service, reducing the need for checkout clerks. According to Los Angeles Times, there has been a 9% increase in business through self-service machines since 2010.&nbsp;

Currently, robots are manned by humans however with technology upgradations, it is possible to imagine a world where robots run their own chores.&nbsp;

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(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

Self-driving car, curated suggestions at e-com sites or life-like robots; the machine-world can do it all without us

This is the decade of automation, with machines making our work easier than before and in some cases, robots even replacing people at farms and manufacturing units. Pick any one industry and it is easy to imagine a world in which machines outrun humans. Martin Ford, author of the book ‘Rise of the Robots’, talks about a not-so-distant future when robots programmed using algorithms and advanced technology become more efficient than humans. Although data on job losses due to automation is still sketchy, the world that Ford foresees is still a possibility. It must also be noted that so far, most technology-driven agents are not fully autonomous and need human intervention. The best examples of the kind are Roomba, which became famous for vacuuming the floor in no time, or Siri, which guides us through almost everything, even a heartache with its witty responses. Here are some jobs that robots can do, and for which, the world might not need humans: Astronauts NASA and General Motors have come together to make Robonaut 2. The machine will have an array of sensors and will be capable of handling small jobs like cleaning the space station and assisting humans in space. But there are talks of making it capable of venturing out in space to conduct scientific research. Babysitters Recently, Aeon Co., a major Japanese retailer, introduced a four-foot-tall robot at a store to babysit children while the adults shop. There are, however, other models also, like the Hello Kitty robot which tells jokes, quizzes, and tracks kids using a radio-frequency identification chip. Drivers Several major technology companies have announced their interest in launching driverless cars that will be safe and effective at the same time. These are being developed with the aim of making driving easier and error free. Google has tested seven cars with human supervisors. The cars have driven 1,000 miles without human intervention and more than 140,000 miles with only occasional human control. Lawyers and Paralegals A lawyer would take much longer time than a robot to read through documents and review them. A machine can do all this in a fraction of that time and at a much lower cost. Most popular law firms feel that this is a boon for the industry as people have a tendency of tiring, while a machine can continue working for much, much longer. Pharmacist It is quite possible to imagine a robot as a pharmacist. Behind the counter, machines can analyse documents, fill out prescriptions and handle other such tasks. The UCSF Medical Center launched an automated, robotics-controlled pharmacy at two of its hospitals. Once they receive orders for medications, the robots pick, package and dispense pills without any error. So far, they have been successful in preparing 350,000 doses perfectly. Reporters Even reporters of today face a risk of losing their jobs to robots. There is a software developed by Northwestern University, which is being used by Fox Cable for baseball and softball coverage as it is cheaper and easier to have a machine multi-task rather than having several reporters at one event. After the game is over, the software collects all data, emails it to the data centre, which comes out with a story in minutes. There is also the story of Xiao Nan robot from China. The robot reporter recently wrote a 300-characters-long article in just one second. Also in comparison to staff writers, robots have stronger data analysis capacity and are quicker at writing stories. Rescuers Robots can reach areas that are inaccessible to humans and provide crucial help in rescuing victims from natural disasters. There are currently various prototypes, out of which there is a snake-like robot that can enter tight spaces and use a camera to survey the surrounding area. There are also aerial drones that can conduct inspections or ROV’s, which can help locate underwater objects and determine the condition of bridges and pipelines. Soldiers Security and surveillance systems are likely to be a major frontier for automation. While robots are not replacing soldiers altogether any time soon, we do have drones and surveillance systems that can monitor, track and direct security missions. One example is MAARS (Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System), which provides armed robots in Iraq. These robots have GPS monitors which can be programmed to differentiate between fire and no-fire zones, open doors, and even drag out injured bodies. Store clerks The easiest target for a robot would be the job of a store clerk. Companies are always working out ways of keeping less staff, so as to maximise profits, and robots might come handy in this. Robots can answer telephones, can communicate, can provide virtual assistance and ensure self-service, reducing the need for checkout clerks. According to Los Angeles Times, there has been a 9% increase in business through self-service machines since 2010. Currently, robots are manned by humans however with technology upgradations, it is possible to imagine a world where robots run their own chores. (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

Are we going to lose our jobs to robots?

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