But with rapid advancements in A.I., robots like Neo could become viable sooner rather than later. That would continue a decades-long trend of machines taking over repetitive, hands-on jobs, like those in factories and on assembly lines. As for other kinds of vocations requiring creativity and decision-making skills, such as those of doctors and social workers, robots likely won’t replace humans, many experts say—at least not anytime soon.
They might, however, help ease growing shortages in some employment sectors, including, for example, workers who handle both housecleaning and care of elders and children. Organizations that represent people in those professions welcome new technologies—provided they can perform well alongside human workers and not supplant them entirely.
“These tools could make some of the more strenuous, taxing, and dangerous work easier, and allow workers to focus on things that only human workers can offer,” says Ai-jen Poo, president of the National Domestic Workers Alliance.
Whether people will let these machines into their homes, even if robots develop the necessary skills, is an open question. In the meantime, Børnich is pressing forward with Neo, one dirty dinner plate at a time.