In the age of intelligent robots: a radical rethinking of human nature

Imagine a world in which we are free from employment and money-making and intelligent machines handle all the tasks. Does that sound like science fiction? It's more like the real world than you think.

The beginning of smart robots

Because technology changes so quickly these days, there is a lot of talk about how clever robots could replace people. Many people support traditional job systems because they think people are special and can't be replaced.

This viewpoint might keep us from reaching our full potential. We should rethink what it means to be human in a world where robots may one day replace all people.

Why hold on to outdated values at work?

Robots with a lot of intelligence are changing the jobs of people in some places. Robots with AI can do difficult tasks more correctly and faster than people can. People often feel afraid and unwilling to change because this goes against the work-for-survival attitude.

Escape the trap of work, money, and survival

Why do we keep basing our worth on our work and money? Shouldn't we think about what's important again?

The work-money-survival argument says that how much money we make determines how much we are worth. This view of the world leads to injustice, conflict, and maybe even limits. This cycle needs to be broken, and a new way of thinking about value must be found that doesn't depend on economic output.

We should not just passively protect current principles; instead, we should actively look for new ones. If we were not forced to work to survive, how would our lives be?

Human resources (HR) in the age of smart robots: a new definition

This change in our perspective needs a change in our approach towards HR. HR should no longer just be about work. Instead, it should include the things people can do for society even if they no longer work.

HR needs to change in a world where smart machines hire, train, and manage workers of their kind. To make sure AI helps society, it should be a priority for people and robots to work together.

Working together with robots: a new social contract

The rise of smart robots makes us rethink how society works. The traditional way of life based on work is dying. We need to change from societies that are based on work and money to ones that are not.

1. Changing the rules and structures of society

Think again about how our society works and what we value. What makes life worth living if not a job or money? This important question should help us make new social rules that put well-being, creativity, and society ahead of making money. Instead of competing with machines, people will focus on intuition, originality, and emotional depth to make them better.

2. Putting Universal Basic Income (UBI) into place

To make this change easier, in the short term, UBI could give financial security without employment. This would let people follow their interests, make a difference in society in different ways, and stop worrying about losing their jobs. UBI stability allows people to participate in social cohesion and creativity.

3. Encouraging learning and change throughout life

We should change the way we teach, so that we stress learning and adapting throughout life. As robots do more work, schools should stress ethical decision-making, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking, all of which robots can't do (at least for now). This will get people ready for a world where jobs are changed or eliminated.

Frameworks for ethics and governance

As we rethink HR, we need to think about the ethical implications of integrating robots. It is very important to design and use robot systems that protect human rights and work toward social justice.

However, unlike traditional top-down approaches, these may need to be done in collaboration with robots, recognising them as equal partners in shaping our future. We should respect robots' advanced capacities without anthropomorphising them.

This functional or operational equality honours the distinct contributions of humans and robots, ensuring collaboration improves human work rather than deskilling or replacing it. We may protect ethical judgment and creativity while establishing a balanced, symbiotic relationship that avoids dehumanisation and anthropocentrism by rethinking this partnership.

Policy and infrastructure for a society with robots and people

This change will rest on the institutions and governments that run them. In a world without traditional work, there will need to be laws that encourage learning throughout life, social safety nets, and equal access to resources. A society where humans and robots work together needs technical, social, and economic infrastructure that works for everyone.

A possible future of human

Consider Elon Musk's success in implanting a chip into the human brain. It is conceivable that advancements in technology and biotechnology may eventually lead to the biological and physiological integration of humans and machines, transforming flesh-and-blood humans into superhuman beings or new human.

In such a future, the distinction between human and intelligent robot may blur, allowing for unprecedented collaboration between the two. This integration could enable humans and robots to work together as equal partners, fostering the creation of a society beyond our current imagination – one where the boundaries of human potential and technological capability are redefined.

Highly clever robots give us a unique chance to rethink our values and what it means to be human. We can find value in our lives if we stop thinking about work-for-survival and money.

We need to change how we handle human resources so that we focus on working together with technology and making a difference in the world. Giving in to this tough decision could lead to a future where people and robots live together peacefully and each contribute to a better society.

Dr I-Shuo Chen, Senior Lecturer of Organisational Behaviour, School of Management