Ahead of the trade fair for the automation and robotics industry, automatica, from 27 to 30 June in Munich, the trend index shows the hopes associated with automation and robotics. Around half of those employed in Germany see this as an opportunity to combat the shortage of skilled labour.

A large majority considers the Use of artificial intelligence software such as ChatGPT to provide useful assistance in futureto make decisions in the workplace. These are the results of the automatica 2023 trend index, for which 1,000 employees in Germany were surveyed by a market research institute.

Almost every second respondent in Germany sees the The use of robots as an important to very important way to overcome the shortage of skilled labour. in the industry. 68 per cent are in favour of robots supporting employees so that older people can stay in work for longer. 84 per cent are of the opinion that relieve skilled workers in the workplace by having machines take over hazardous or unhealthy tasks. 72 per cent of employees also see the advantage of using robotics to prevent the migration of industrial production abroad.

When machines with digital technology are used in the workplace, control must always remain in the hands of people - 45 per cent of respondents in Germany are firmly convinced of this. This result is remarkable in an international comparison: in Japan, for example, less than a fifth (18 per cent) are in favour of such a strict course. In China (35 per cent) and the USA (38 per cent), calls for human control are also significantly weaker than among employees in Germany.

"Robotics and AI software such as ChatGPT will characterise the workplaces of the future. If we use these technologies correctly, we can improve working conditions enormously," says Patrick Schwarzkopf, Managing Director of the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association and member of the automatica Advisory Board.

"At automatica 2023, you will experience the latest spectrum of intelligent robotics and automation. The trade fair brings together the world's largest range of industrial and service robotics, assembly systems, industrial image processing systems and components."

Dr Reinhard PfeifferManaging Director of Messe München

In addition, manufacturing more GreenTech products is not just a matter of
72 per cent of employees see this as a great opportunity for Germany as an industrial location. Technology that helps to save energy, reduce emissions or achieve other sustainability goals makes factory jobs more attractive: 74 per cent say the GreenTech production gives work a special meaning. The majority of respondents see the use of industrial robots as an opportunity to scale up the production of green technologies through mass production - 82 per cent say so. These include, for example, solar panels, batteries for electric cars or environmentally friendly heat pump heating systems made in Germany, which will be produced cost-effectively in large quantities in the future using robotics and automation.

Source: automatica

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