Robots in the workplace: Where are we today and where will we be tomorrow?

Does your job require you to work alongside robots? If not, you might see some form of artificial intelligence in the cubicle next to you sooner than you expect, according to recent trends. 

(Image via examiner.com)

What trends, exactly, are being referenced here? Well, for one, 2011 saw $8.5 billion in sales of industrial robots. That’s an estimated 166,000 units, and a 38% increase from 2010.

Also, the complexity of the tasks assigned to this new form of co-worker has changed. While most robots in the past were tasked with menial jobs like sorting through waste materials, today we see full-scale production operations that employ robots on the line from start to finish. 

The robot Baxter has gained notoriety for the ease with which it can be incorporated into the workplace.

One industry that’s really taken to this trend is automobile manufacturing. Hyundai Motors, for example, introduced artificial intelligence to their car production line and has seen significant return; most notably, the company has reduced its delivery time by a remarkable 20%. 

Robots on the production line have proven a wise investment for car manufacturer Hyundai. (Image via Bloomberg.com)

In just a few years, the industry has gone from building robots for the purpose of sorting through garbage to building artificial intelligence machines tasked with assembling today’s generation of automobile.

While it’s an amazing series of progressions to reflect upon, the journey is far from over. To better understand where the robot industry is today, how companies are incorporating artificial intelligence in the workplace, and what tomorrow’s office might look like, check out the infographic below: 

Story and infographic via clicksoftware.com