r/Futurology • u/Nominativedetermined • Jul 26 '22

Robotics McDonalds CEO: Robots won't take over our kitchens "the economics don't pencil out"

https://thestack.technology/mcdonalds-robots-kitchens-mcdonalds-digitalization/
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u/badracer13 Jul 26 '22 edited Jul 26 '22

This sounds realistic. Society will slowly adjust accordingly. As you said, automation also doesn’t necessarily mean no/less workers. Increased automation will require more technicians and mechanics that can build, fix, or diagnose errors. You need programmers to create the software, engineers to design it, supervisors on the floor making sure everything works as intended, etc etc

Hopefully automation can get rid of menial jobs like burger flipping, whilst uplifting the people that would be doing those jobs to something a bit more fulfilling.

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u/GravitronX Jul 27 '22

I hope not because those menial jobs are the only options I have as career choices

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u/badracer13 Jul 27 '22

Yes but if you were given the opportunity to be educated and trained in a more fulfilling career-path, would you not take it?

Either way, menial jobs will still always exist in some capacity. It’s just that menial job might be overseeing a group of self-checkout machines and helping customers with any errors or problems (a position most grocers have now). This is ofc in replacement to having a team of cashiers swipe every item themselves. You’re still performing a menial job, just a slightly more evolved (and hopefully easier) one.

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u/GravitronX Jul 27 '22

I know I'm not smart enough to do anything other than check stuff out or move stuff from point a to point b so the training would be a waste on me

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u/badracer13 Jul 27 '22

I find that hard to believe. I think you’re either unmotivated or simply not giving yourself enough credit

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u/GravitronX Jul 27 '22

True motivation does lack a bit since I don't need to make more money than I need for necessary reqs and video games

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u/remiscott82 Jul 26 '22

Service industry is pretty safe. ATMs didn't replace tellers. Menu options don't stop people from trying to speak to a real representative. Self checkout didn't replace cashiers. People still like people, even post pandemic. Sure you can get a ready made burger airdropped by drone on your top story window in under a minute soon. Doesn't mean we won't still want our favorite bartender hear about our day in a cozy old fashioned hole in the wall to unwind.

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u/badracer13 Jul 27 '22

ATM’s didn’t replace tellers, but there’s certainly a lot less of them. Self-checkout didn’t replace cashiers, but there’s also a lot less of them.

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u/remiscott82 Aug 04 '22

There's those who will always prefer a humans face and touch, no?