Jobs Humans May Lose to Robots

By Charlene Cooper | Jun 28, 2012 01:15 PM EDT

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By 2013, humans will be replaced robots, says a new report. That will be one robot for every 5,000 people, according to Marshall Brain, founder of How Stuff Works and author of Robotic Nation.

Robots have already started taking over positions that we never would have imagined only decades ago. Robots can now analyze documents, fill prescriptions, handle funds, and much more. These are all things that had previously only been done by human hands.

Four jobs that may be threatened by this new age robot takeover include the following:

Pharmacists

Don't get too comfortable seeing a pharmacist's face when you go and drop off a prescription because they may be replaced by a robot in the coming year.

The UCSF Medical Center recently created an automated, robotics-controlled pharmacy at two of its hospitals that is able to prepare doses of medication. It has arranged over 350,000 doses with no mistakes.

By the end of the summer, nurses at UCSF's Medical Center will start using barcode readers to scan patients' medication to assure the correct dosage. The system will also be able to fill IV syringes and bags with medication.

Drivers

Last fall Google announced that it was creating an automated car that could increase safety and reduce human's commute on a daily basis.

Under the watch of humans in the passenger seat, seven test cars have driven 1,000 miles without the help of a human and over 140,000 miles with barely any human assistance.

Astronauts

NASA's Robonaut2 is predicted to be a future leader in robot astronauts. It is equipped with human-like hands, various sensors, and can even clean space stations and help with human space operations. Although it hasn't quite made it up to space yet, NASA believes that it will one day be capable of helping spacewalkers perform scientific work.

Store Clerks

Robots are already rapidly taking over this job, as $740 billion was transacted via self-service marchines in 2010 alone, according to the Los Angeles Times. That amount is predicted to reach $1.1 trillion by 2014.

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