Final answer:
The use of robotic machines may lead to job loss and more sedentary lifestyles as automation takes over routine tasks. The routinization of jobs can also negatively impact work ethic and employee value. However, technological advancements can also improve workplace health and safety, with the need for careful regulation in the face of rising AI.
Step-by-step explanation:
The drawbacks of using robotic machines include job loss and a potential increase in sedentary lifestyles. Automation in the workplace, facilitated by technology like robots and computers, can complete many routine tasks more efficiently and at a lower cost than humans. This transition has led to job displacement in sectors such as bookkeeping, clerical work, and production assembly lines. Moreover, as tasks are increasingly delegated to machines, there is a concern that human activity could decrease, leading to more sedentary lives which can have negative health implications.
In addition to these issues, the introduction of robots into the workforce can cause jobs once considered hands-on and engaging to become highly routinized and discouraging. For example, within the fast-food industry, the emergence of prescribed roles and tasks has made workers feel replaceable and devalued. This phenomenon can lead to a lack of incentive for workers to perform quality work, affecting overall employee morale and work ethic.
However, it is also important to note that the history of labor has demonstrated the potential for new technologies not only to create challenges in the job market but to solve labor issues as well. For instance, in the past, mechanized work led to serious health and safety problems for laborers, and while automation may result in job shifts, it may also eliminate dangerous and unhealthy working conditions.
Looking ahead, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the potential for job disruption increases. AI could jeopardize millions of jobs, emphasizing the need for strategic planning and regulation to facilitate a smooth transition into this new era of the workforce that maximizes benefits and minimizes harm.