Despite looking like a young Robocop, this guy just plays ping pong. "You have 40 seconds to serve".

It’s been revealed in a report that 1 in 3 Britons fears that a robot will be taking their job in the near future. Jobs that are dull, dangerous or dirty look set for robot overhaul, with our metallic friends more than able to pick up simple routines in defined structures. However anything more complicated than picking up one thing in one place, following one route and putting it down in another unchanging place is likely to flummox a robot. Even ironing is beyond them. 

Other headline stats - 39% of Britons fear that robots pose a definite threat to humanity, while 17% of people are willing to have sex with a robot. We hope they’re not the same, very confused, people. Another recent report suggests 702 currently human jobs are in danger of becoming robot territory.

It’s an interesting question to ponder for our specific digital sector as the work in PPC and SEO exists entirely in the digital space, which oddly means the nuances and human strategy takes it far away from something easily-automated like factory work. In terms of SEO though are we already working for an inorganic algorithm? Does programmatic buying add up to robots doing PPC?

Robots are already making a better job of saving lives (in hospitals) and taking lives (on the battlefield) so it’s not surprising to hear that they might be taking up the reins of many things in between.

If about 50 years of Hollywood hasn’t convinced you robots might not be fantastic, even Stephen Hawking is chipping in now. The true tipping point may come when it’s cheaper to build a robot than employ a person on minimum wage, as whether it’s robots or humans in charge capitalism is likely to win out.

This robot is fantastic at making Japanese pancakes.

Martin Smith, Professor of Robotics at University of Middlesex offered a calming voice though, saying “While many of us worry about the role of technology and machines in modern society, robots are increasingly being developed for important roles that will help protect and improve our lives.

"Though many fear their jobs will be taken over by machines, it is more likely that robots will be used as assistants, and the future workforce could have the benefit of avoiding hazardous and repetitive tasks rather than suffer mass redundancies.”

Could this robot do your job?