The UK's Science Minister has stated that the convergence of artificial intelligence and robotics is set to fundamentally alter the nature of human work, with warehouses and factories leading the initial wave of change.
Government Backs Robotics with Funding and Deregulation
Lord Patrick Vallance made his comments as the government revealed plans to cut red tape for robotics and defence technology firms. The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) is expanding its remit to include these sectors, aiming to streamline the process of bringing new products to market.
Concurrently, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is releasing £52 million to establish new hubs designed to accelerate the adoption of robotics across British industry. These hubs will provide businesses with expert advice and live demonstrations of robotic technology.
Vallance, speaking during a visit to UK-based robotics firm Humanoid, argued that technological progress is creating a fresh frontier for automation. "What's really changing now is the combination of AI and robotics," he said. "It is opening up a whole new area, particularly in the sorts of things like humanoid robotics."
A Wave of Change and a Warning on Unemployment
The minister predicted that roles involving movement and repetitive tasks in industrial settings would be the first to evolve. "Activities that require movement around warehouses and factories... will be made robotic in many cases and therefore, will change the nature of those jobs. That's going to be the first wave," Vallance explained.
He emphasised that robotics would remove mundane elements from work, enhancing human roles rather than simply replacing them. Citing robotic surgery as an example, he noted it improves precision and radically assists surgeons rather than displacing them.
However, this optimistic view was countered by a stark warning from London Mayor Sadiq Khan. In his annual Mansion House speech, Khan cautioned that artificial intelligence could "usher in a new era of mass unemployment" unless the government takes proactive steps to manage the transition and replace jobs lost to automation.
Streamlining Rules for Emerging Tech
The expanded role of the RIO is intended to help companies navigate complex regulatory landscapes more efficiently. The government highlighted that a product like an autonomous drone might currently need separate approvals for aviation, data protection, and specific safety rules—a costly process taking months.
"The RIO will aim to streamline overlapping requirements to bring products to market safely, but more quickly, to improve lives and grow our economy," a government statement said.
Industry figures welcomed the move. Adam Kelsall, Head of Product Management at Humanoid, which has tested prototypes in a Siemens factory, said the company supported "anything that gets us into the real world and testing [robots] sooner."
