Atlas
Are our jobs still safe with the rise of AI? Or will we soon be replaced by smart software and perhaps by robots? A large Korean trade union fears that the latter will be the case and is sounding the alarm.
During the Consumer Electronics Show, Hyundai unveiled the latest generation of its humanoid (human-like) robot, Atlas, on stage. Atlas was developed by Boston Dynamics, known for its dog-like robot that is already being used in, among other places, the Volvo factory in Ghent. Boston Dynamics and Hyundai are no strangers to each other, as Hyundai Motor Company has been the parent company of the American robotics expert since 2020. A large Korean Hyundai trade union is sounding the alarm about the rise of human-like robots and fears significant job losses.
Hyundai has already indicated that it will deploy its humanoid robots in its factory in Georgia, United States, by 2028. There, the robots will be used in areas where they demonstrate proven advantages in terms of safety and quality, according to Hyundai. By 2030, the Atlas robots will perform more tasks and will also be deployed in assembly. Annually, Hyundai Motor Group aims to produce approximately 30,000 humanoid robots. Hyundai: ‘Hyundai Group strives to gradually roll out the deployment of robots to all production locations.’ In other words: jobs are at stake, and a large Korean trade union is concerned, according to reports from Korean media and Reuters. “We will never tolerate unilateral decisions on moving production abroad, introducing new technologies (robot automation), or acting without an agreement between employer and employee,” the union emphasizes.
The union warns Hyundai and states that Hyundai may not deploy robots without its approval. It says that the deployment of robots will cause a shockwave in employment. The union states that Hyundai wants to increase its profits by reducing its workforce through the use of robots.