Final answer:
Autonomous computer programs that execute tasks on behalf of users are known as agents or bots. They play a significant role in workplace automation, replacing manual labor, especially for routine or repetitive tasks, exemplified by self-scanning aisles in supermarkets.
Step-by-step explanation:
The autonomous computer programs that can be dispatched by the user to execute certain tasks are commonly known as agents or bots. These programs operate independently to perform tasks such as data collection, complex computations, or automating routine processing tasks. An excellent example of how automation affects the job market is seen in the automation of the workplace.
Automation often leads to the replacement of workers with technology, particularly for jobs that involve routine or repetitive tasks. For instance, the self-scan checkout aisles in supermarkets are examples of how jobs in bookkeeping, clerical work, and production assembly lines are susceptible to automation. In such a context, one employee can now supervise multiple self-scanning aisles where traditionally, one employee was needed for each aisle.