What if Robots were to take over our jobs....

It was a hazy Sunday morning and I was sitting in my little garth, outside my house doing practically nothing constructive but gazing at and relishing the chirping house sparrows and black mynas, flitting from one branch of the Neem tree to another playfully.

A while ago, I had finished reading an interesting write up on how robots, one day, are going to practically gobble up most of the repetitive and dangerous jobs presently done by humans.

The article was very comprehensive and thorough. It dealt with the subject of artificial intelligence in all its aspects, delving into how it will usher in a smart tomorrow globally. The well-rounded critique also dealt with some uncomfortable truths which stare us in the face, like getting replaced by robots, which, to begin with will be for certain types of jobs, which are either too mundane or too dangerous to be performed by us.

The special feature was truly pièce de resistance but what got me really interested in this special Tech feature was an insight it gave into all that humanoid robots are capable of doing in the near future.

The commentary showcased how well the humanoids can perform certain activities like public relations and customer care and that how they will be a perfect fit in the healthcare and education sector.

It was interesting to learn that robots can sing and dance too! That means that they can be excellent entertainers!!

So, the way engineering technology is progressing, these humanoids will replicate most activities performed by humans.

Oh God!!!!

In the background the birds were still chirping in my little green quarter and from the corner of my eye I could see a familiar but lonesome Koel perched on the branch of the Neem tree looking at me.

This Neem tree overlooking my green patch was accidently planted, many years ago, when I was much younger, and at that time for some reason, I was not happy about it being there as it seemed to be in the wrong space.

However, after over 20 years, the tree has grown old with me and frankly as I see it today the space appears to be perfect! Could not have been any better. Now many birds come here, tweet and play during the day and my friend of many years the black koel visits me every weekend to say a little hello- a feeble kukukuku…

Today also he is looking down at me perched on the branch up there without even batting an eye lid.

The mating season is over for my poor friend and also for me (ahem for good I guess) hence we find solace in each other’s company, but my friend will have company again in the spring and then he will visit me occasionally.

I smiled at him, and put my head against the back rest of my chair and closed my eyes to soak in the limited sunlight…... …

Prologue

What happened? Why am I standing with my colleagues outside our office building in the sprawling campus of our company?

Oh, so finally we have been fired! We are no longer required to work!!

What? We have become redundant!! Why?

We have been replaced by robots!!!

Ah… you mean by the computer programmed intelligent and efficient humanoids?

Complication

A chilling reality but a reality none the less! They have arrived! A large platoon of robots. Left, right left right, marching past us and we the redundant human work force, now erstwhile employees of the company, are watching these machines go past us marching purposefully to man the jobs which hitherto were in our domain! and now…. we watch them helplessly from the bylines. These humanoids are proceeding to work on desks which used to be ours until …… yesterday?

We are watching the arrival of these golems with a huge amount of sparring; however, we are certain that more of it stands reserved for our erstwhile employer!

Our faces swell in anger and frustration.

The mummer of discontent starts amongst the congregation of the laid off employees…

Did Mister big not evaluate what the future holds for him? Did he not contemplate even once that by throwing us out and engaging these humanoids in the name of cost and productive efficiency, he is actually doing himself more disfavour than a favour?

Did he not think even once that if all other employers like him across the globe follow suit and replace us by these robots, they-the padrones would in fact cause an economic downturn?

Does the high muck amuck not understand that Robots have no need for money and that by firing us and taking away our livelihood we will be left with no or lesser disposable income (i.e. if we are lucky enough to find some employment elsewhere with a more sensible decision maker)

Where will the big honcho find the buyers for his products and services? Robots certainly don’t need his products or his services!

The gaffer does not understand that in the name of cost and productive efficiency he will have to incur not only a huge one-time acquisition cost but also other recurring costs like maintenance, up gradation and maybe even a replacement of these humanoids--- he will surely need a newer and more advanced version of them whenever there is a change in the economic scenario and sure scenario will change! Look at us? We would have been a cheaper option! More flexible and we can also upgrade our skills without much cost!

The big wheel has certainly not foreseen that there could be trouble in the robot’s program. A glitch! Misbehavior! Well, if that happens it would serve the skipper right!!!

The thought is comforting and raises confidence level suddenly. We may get reinstated if that happens…. this thought brings a smile on out faces. Let’s wait and watch how long this can go on…

Complication

Wait, what? Are the robots getting slowly integrated into our society? Are they kind leaders who are now ruling the world? They are controlling everyone and everything? That means that in addition to being thrown out of work, we humans are also going to be thrown out of our home? Our planet, our mother earth? But how and why…

There is a new bias in the society! The Robots are siding with their kind, yes, their fellow robots and on the other side we humans are getting cozy with our fellow humans. There is an unholy power and survival struggle between the two!

Hey, how can we allow these humanoids into our homes-our planet earth?

These walking and talking machines are seeing us as a threat to them and are excluding the us humans, who created them in the first place! And now the irony is that they see us as an inferior race!

They have their own conscience now just like we do!

A hierarchy is formed!

There is a new bias…

A Hollywood movie comes alive in the reverie….

In this power struggle the robots and humans are pitted against each other. Violence ensues. Both attack each other to harm, alienate or eradicate the other.

In the new society both of us are required to coexist and so a new set of laws are laid down.

However, we continue to see each other with suspicion.

Under the new laws laid down we are not allowed to destroy each other.

The distrust continues and Laws become tighter and punishments severe for crimes against each other.

If we hurt a robot then we are sent to prison and if the robot kills us, he will be executed –well good for him but I won’t be there to witness his execution because one of them has already killed me. It would have been a sweet indemnification to witness the execution of this Kahuna who gobbled up my job!

It’s no wonder why humans do not like the humanoids, they made us poor and pushed us on the verge of starvation. What next? what can the marginalized people do? -- a revolution, an uprising against the AI enabled biped overlords?

Conclusion

They have overtaken us in the entire realm of production, services, entertainment, research, science, engineering …everything!! they have become super intelligent and all pervasive, they can feel and think like you and me, they can analyze and solve anything, they can connect dots and sure enough they have become capable enough to quell the revolution and wipe us out completely!

What have we been exterminated already?

Why is my face wet?

Where am I?

Have I become extinct already! No?

Which nether world am I in right now?

Wrapping up

Unconsciously I wipe away the water from my face and open my eyes. The Mynas are still flitting from one branch of the tree to the other and the house sparrows are busy drinking water from the bird bath hanging from old Neem tree just above my face.

So, I am still alive. I am here to stay! What a relief!!

I still have my job. I will not starve at least for a good period of time.

Phew what a frustrooted dream!!

PS: Friends, While this blog asserts its own materiality, the interpolation of scenarios as seen in a dream like state is an attempt to turn the coarse Indian Pasquinade into rapier weapon of satire.

I hope to receive your comments soon on the subject and look forward to fun based intelligent debate on the subject and I am sure the pleasure of debating on the subject will be mutual.

Do share your thoughts with me.

Looking forward to a fun interaction with all of you out there.

Bye for now

Best