It is increasingly argued that the growing use of robots and artificial intelligence at work represents a positive development. While I acknowledge the risk of job losses, I largely agree with this view, as automation raises productivity and frees people from dangerous or tedious work.

The most compelling benefit is efficiency. Because machines can perform multitasking and tackle repetitive tasks without fatigue, they are far less error-prone than humans, which lowers costs and raises output. In manufacturing, for example, automated production lines have minimised delays and improved quality, thereby allowing companies to strive for excellence and remain competitive. Employees, meanwhile, are freed to focus on more creative and rewarding responsibilities that machines cannot replicate. In hazardous industries such as mining and chemical processing, robots can also carry out life-threatening tasks that would otherwise put human workers at serious risk.

Admittedly, there is a legitimate concern that automation could eradicate a wide range of jobs and cause a surge in unemployment, particularly in routine occupations. Nonetheless, this challenge can be mitigated through retraining schemes and education that equip workers with new skills. History suggests that technological revolutions ultimately create as many opportunities as they displace, provided societies invest in their workforce. Just as automation created entirely new industries in the past, the current wave of AI is already generating demand for data specialists, engineers and technicians.

In conclusion, although the rise of automation carries a genuine risk of job displacement, its benefits to productivity and safety are considerable. I therefore agree that, with the right support for displaced workers, it is a positive development.