Local News

Actions

New report suggests robots will replace thousands of jobs

Posted at 11:36 PM, May 11, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-12 11:55:06-04

A new report is revealing some shocking statistics on the potential future of jobs in Las Vegas. The report basically says, 66% of the work being done around the valley, can and will be replaced by a computer or a robot in the next couple of decades.

The report is from the Institute for Spatial Economic Analysis.

Las Vegas was at the top of the list for having the most jobs that could be replaced by robots.

We're talking about jobs like truck drivers, burger flippers, and restaurant greeters.

Johannes Moenius is with the Institute for Spatial Economic Analysis and says the jobs it will impact are the jobs that could be given an algorithm.

Moenius says the robots will not replace hosts and servers at high end eateries. Fast food joints will be more affected.

He says for every robot, five jobs will be eliminated. Moenius says this will happen over the next two decades.

13 Action News had the change to see a robot in action at a convention. The robot's name is 'Pepper' and 'Pepper' is with Soft Bank Robotics.

Kass Dawson with Soft Bank Robotics says 'Pepper' is already operating in Europe and Japan. In fact, there are 10,000 of them in service. Dawson hopes to bring 'Pepper' to the United States by the end of 2017. 

"Answering the question of where is the bathroom?" said Dawson. "Answering the questions that people get tired of answering and can maybe spoil they day if you will."

Dawson says 'Pepper' will not replace jobs like the report suggests, but instead, will enhance jobs.

"It's real easy to be afraid of the robots are coming!" he said. "We want people to understand that this is a helper, this is an assistant for your existing employees."