Originally conceptualised with the aim of aiding the human experience, it seems automation and the advancements of AI are now beginning to hinder it. Photo by Rock’n Roll Monkey on Unsplash

• Robots in the workplace damage employees’ mental wellbeing, finds new research from Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU).
• With an increasing number of robots in our workplaces, a robot-caused mental health crisis looms.
• Can anything be done to mitigate this harm?

From the Greeks on, we have imagined robots: the poet Hesiod tells the myth of Talos, a giant bronze man built by Hephaestus, the god of smithing, to protect the island of Crete. Talos patrolled the island and threw rocks at approaching ships. Machines have always, then, been taking people’s jobs and taking over strenuous labour. This has mixed blessings. Automation until now has freed us from the hard work, but is it now taking away our purpose? 

The Financial Times reports on the frontline of the automation wars, in the US where a traditional industry that is becoming increasingly automated: ports. “In a conventional crane, an operator sits inside a cab, lifting containers off ships and sorting them, before transferring them to trucks or trains – a highly skilled job that can earn workers as much as $200,000 annually,” writes Taylor Nicole Rogers. “But with an increase in semi-automated cranes unpacking crates from a ship, these lucrative jobs are becoming increasingly rare.” Auto taxis are also reportedly on the way thanks to Tesla, as are robot housekeepers – dubbed “TeslaBots”.

The manufacturing industry in particular has witnessed a remarkable surge in automation in the recent past. In 1990, there were around 400,000 industrial robots worldwide, but fast forward to 2020, and that number has skyrocketed to three million, and it is only set to rise. With that has come the widescale losses of previously human jobs.

Whilst industry effectiveness and profitability may rise, the effects of automation on the mental health of those who can continue to work in these sectors have been largely overlooked. The Economist reports that ‘In theory, machines can free up time for more interesting tasks; in practice, they seem to have had the opposite effect’. The same article also revealed that pharmaceutical assistants became dispirited when their robot-assisted job resulted in their work being reduced to simply loading machines.

And now, a new study from Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) brings this reality into the spotlight. Its findings reveal that the increasing use of robots in the modern world is negatively impacting the mental health of those who work alongside them.

How do robots affect mental health?

It gets worse: the more automation – in terms of industrial robots in production – in a sector, the worse the mental health of employees in the workplace. This means that even as workloads lessen, the work we do is more inherently depressing.

Industrial automation also intensifies the fear of job loss, a constant stress for employees. This fear is particularly pronounced among individuals over the age of 60 and those who perform simple and routine tasks. 

‘This effect is primarily driven by worries about job security and a lower sense of achievement on the job,’ says Dr Ana Lucia Abeliansky, Assistant Professor at WU.

The past decades have witnessed rapid growth in robot adoption: from 400,000 industrial robots worldwide in 1990 to more than three million in 2020, according to International Federation of Robotics data.

The WU paper reports that recent studies find that nine to 12 percent of occupations are susceptible to automation, with some earlier studies even suggesting numbers of up to 47 percent. The threat that the robots are coming for us is alive and well: it is now fact.

As robots increasingly take over manual and repetitive tasks, the economic benefits for firms adopting automation are shown in profit margins: productivity rises, costs are cut, and firms gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

Women and men are affected similarly, as are workers of all educational levels, though those close to the end of their working lives, working in routine jobs, or low-skilled occupations are the most fearful of being replaced by robots. Automation is a boon to business.

Physical automation is just the tip of the iceberg. With AI and robots likely to combine in the future, Jensen Huang of Nvidia has said, “The next wave of AI is physical AI. AI that understands the laws of physics, AI that can work among us,” referring to the use of AI to instruct robots to carry out real-world tasks, a reality soon approaching.

Huang added, “Everything is going to be robotic. All of the factories will be robotic. The factories will orchestrate robots, and those robots will be building products that are robotic.”

If it’s all robot brains and bodies, where do the people fit in?

The health and economic consequences

The consequences of automation-induced mental health issues extend beyond individual horror, and start to affect society as a whole, as well as the economy.

For businesses, reduced employee morale can lead to higher turnover rates, increased absenteeism, and lower productivity. This matters, as employees who are disengaged at work cost the world $8.8 trillion in lost productivity, according to Gallup’s 2023 report State of the Global Workplace, which is equal to 9 percent of global GDP.

Healthcare systems are also affected, with rising cases of stress-related illnesses and depression requiring medical intervention. Losing your job to robots is bad for your health. Families and communities, too, feel the strain as financial insecurity and emotional distress ripple through households. These things combine into a potential breakdown of society.

Co-author of the WU study, Klaus Prettner, emphasizes that automation can have adverse effects on workers that extend beyond job loss is very significant not only for the business world but also for society as a whole.

“Mental health strongly influences individual productivity, as well as overall well-being and social life. Therefore, it’s crucial to further explore this relationship,” he points out.

On a macroeconomic scale, the cumulative effects can stifle economic growth. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlighted how mental health disorders are already costing the global economy over $1 trillion annually in lost productivity. The integration of robots without adequate support mechanisms for workers could exacerbate these losses.

The ethical dimension

The ethical implications of automation extend beyond economics and health. As firms deploy robots to optimize efficiency, they must also consider the human cost. Technology should augment human capabilities rather than replace them entirely. Ethical frameworks, such as those proposed by the European Commission’s guidelines on AI, emphasize the need for human-centric automation strategies that prioritize dignity and equity.

Looking ahead, the role of automation in shaping mental health will likely intensify as robots become more sophisticated and pervasive. Policymakers, business leaders, and researchers must collaborate to ensure that technological progress does not come at the expense of societal well-being. By addressing the mental health challenges posed by robots, society can navigate this transition more equitably and sustainably.

The side effects of new technologies such as automation on mental health should not be ignored by policymakers. It is important to ensure the functioning of social security systems that protect those who suffer from automation, particularly by providing health insurance and unemployment insurance coverage, making sure that robots help all of humanity, and not just a small sliver who control the production.

Addressing the mental health impact of robots requires a multi-faceted approach. Governments must prioritize robust social safety nets, including unemployment insurance, mental health services, and retraining programs. Companies should also play a role by fostering transparent communication about automation plans, providing upskilling opportunities, and promoting mental well-being in the workplace.

Countries like Germany and Sweden offer models of how to balance technological advancement with worker welfare. Both nations have invested heavily in lifelong learning programs, enabling workers to transition into new roles as industries evolve.

How are younger workers effected?

Younger workers, while generally more adaptable to technological change, often face the challenge of entering a labour market already dominated by advanced automation.

Older employees nearing retirement age, however, grapple with a lack of retraining opportunities, leaving them more vulnerable to displacement. These age-specific challenges necessitate targeted policy interventions. We cannot have major age groups excluded from the workforce.

These countries’ comprehensive healthcare systems also ensure access to mental health resources, mitigating the personal toll of job displacement.

With the right mix of policy solutions, the oncoming (even worse with AI) slew of jobs that are set to be automated out could lead to a life of leisure for many, rather than a mental health nightmare.

By, Thomas Willis

Enjoyed this article? You might be interested in this…