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Indonesians optimistic over robots’ impact on society: Research
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According to a research from YouGov, most Indonesians, especially women, want a robot to do their cleaning. (Shutterstock/File)
Huge developments in technology have increased the concern whether all human jobs would someday be replaced by machines.
However, recent research revealed that Indonesians are cautiously optimistic about the impact robots will have on society. About two-thirds believed that robots would make their life easier.
“Most Indonesians are happy to welcome robots into their lives, with nearly one in 10 saying they wouldn’t want a robot,” read an official statement from UK-based research firm YouGov.
Additionally, when it came to what they want a robot to do for them about three-quarters would like it to clean their house. This function is popular among both women and men with a percentage of 77 and 71 percent, respectively.
Meanwhile, men preferred to use robots for companionship (29 percent) and sports (20 percent). Other popular functions included security, work assistant, gardening and carrying things during shopping.
Read also: AI is here to stay and here's what you need to know
However, although most Indonesians were quite happy to have robots do the hard work for them, it did not mean they were not afraid about the possibility that one day their jobs would be stolen by one. Almost two-thirds believed that robots would indeed take away their jobs, but many do not feel personally threatened by a robot in the workplace as nearly one out of 10 believed it would do a better job than them.
“Eight in 10 Indonesians agree that robots should be carefully regulated, suggesting that regulators will have to forge a new and difficult path that seeks to maximize the benefits of new technology without reducing citizens’ opportunities and/or income,” stated YouGov.
The research firm is said to have gathered the data online between Sept. 11 and 28 using YouGov’s panel of over five million people worldwide. (kes)
