Wirtschafts-Akademie warns against increased use of AI robots in industry

The Bonn Business Academy (BWA) sees the use of robots with artificial intelligence (AI), particularly humanoid robots, as problematic in industry. It is true that robots can help to eliminate the labor shortage. At the same time, however, their use has a major impact on social security systems if hardly any human workers remain in industry and therefore no longer pay into the social security systems.

Harald Müller, Managing Director of BWA, assumes that humanoid AI robots will increasingly be able to do everything better than an industrial worker. Due to their ability to act autonomously and also to be used in work environments designed for humans, there is a risk that robots will increasingly replace humans in the world of work.

Production halls empty of people

Müller refers to the study “Humanoid Robots in Operations” by the consulting firm Horváth. In it, the analysts predict that around 50 percent of manual tasks could be taken over by AI robots by 2030. This would particularly affect the areas of logistics, assembly and material handling. “Even at just one third, the impact on the economy and society would be serious,” warns Müller.

The BWA boss predicts deserted factory halls where people would no longer be allowed to enter during operation. This is because the humanoid robots would work two to five times as fast as their human colleagues. For safety reasons, they would no longer be allowed to remain in the production facilities. Around 50 percent of the production area could become unmanned within the next five years.

This would have the positive effect of reducing costs for companies while increasing productivity. At the same time, however, the barrier to entry for competitor companies would fall, as they could also enter the respective markets if prices for humanoid robots fall.

The BWA boss also sees the advantage that humanoid AI robots can help to stem the shortage of skilled workers caused by the low birth rate. “But this raises legal and ethical questions that our society, and therefore politicians, need to find answers to.”

Who pays into social security systems?

This also involves social issues: who pays into the German social security systems? Up to now, working people have paid pension insurance, health insurance contributions, long-term care insurance and other social benefits as part of their wages. If robots increasingly take over their tasks and fewer employees pay in more, the already strained social systems could come under even more pressure. It is up to politicians, for example, to ensure that there are no negative social consequences. Accordingly, a “machine tax or an AI levy” could be imposed to compensate for this.

However, Müller does not want to be misunderstood: He is not against the use of AI robots in industry. However, there are many things that need to be considered that could have an impact on the economy and society. Europe has already fallen behind the USA and China in key technologies such as the internet, digitalization, smartphones, space travel, satellites and artificial intelligence. This should not happen with humanoid, intelligent robots. Politicians must also set the course here.

(olb)