Robot Professors Have Arrived

The number of robots being used in all industries worldwide is increasing all the time, and there are fears about the amounts of jobs they are threatening. People are used to the fact that robots are working in factories and warehouse, but the introduction of artificial intelligence opens up so many more possibilities. Overall it is estimated that by 2030, 800 million jobs globally will be under threat from automation.

Now robots are able to take on office-based tasks, jobs in the medical profession and looking after people who need care. They are not restricted to manual labor anymore. Some sectors have not been too concerned about a loss of jobs before, but they are now getting concerned about what the future holds. Jobs in higher education are no exception as universities are embracing new technology and robot professors have arrived. This is not only a matter of better teaching, but the cost of proving the education will be a lot cheaper too.

Earlier this year, the first robot lecturer was introduced in Germany. Known as Yuki, the robot has already started to deliver lectures at The Phillips University of Marburg. At the moment it is acting as a teaching assistant, but the bot is able to get a sense of how the students are doing academically and what support they need. He can also set tests for them. There are still significant improvements to be made, but in spite of this, the students say they are finding Yuki very useful.

For human professors, this could mean in the future that experience and teaching skills are not enough. Artificial intelligence, robotics, and intelligent tutoring systems could well mean that robot professors can make a better job of teaching the students.

Robots are set to have a huge impact on the learning experience. Innovation together with traditional academic processes will alter the classroom environment and how universities communicate with their students. As well as delivering lectures, the robots will be able to set and mark exams at a much quicker pace than human professors can.

Will Robot Professors Mean Existing Jobs Are Lost?

The demand for university professors are they are today may well diminish, but they will still be needed. No matter how good the robot professors are, someone needs to keep an eye on what they are teaching and how the students are interacting with them. The roll may be altered a great deal, but it does not mean that suddenly all university lecturers will be out of work.

The higher education sector could well be affected quicker than many other industries. The technology advancements in this area are moving forward faster than in most. Other industries will be able to learn from the experience of universities and their lecturers and use the information gleaned to make their transition even simpler.