Robots and AI at work: the prospects for singularity

This paper seeks to address emerging debates and controversies on the impact of robots and artificial intelligence on the world of work. Longer term discussions of technological ‘singularity’ are considered alongside the socio-technical and economic constraints on the application of robotics and AI. Evidence of robot ‘take-up’ is gathered from reports of the International Federation of Robotics and from case vignettes reported elsewhere. In assessing the contemporary relationship between singularity, robotics and AI the article reflects briefly on the two ‘tests’ of artificial ‘intelligence’ proposed by the pioneer computer scientist Alan Turing, and comments on the efficacy of his ‘tests’ in contemporary applications. The paper continues by examining aspects of public policy and concludes that technological singularity is far from imminent.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Upchurch, M. (2018), Robots and AI at work: the prospects for singularity. New Technology, Work and Employment, 33: 205-218. doi:10.1111/ntwe.12124, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12124. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.