Critics say that this kind of human-machine cooperation has its
problems. They say that keeping up with the pace of
the new technology is hurting human
workers’ health and morale.
Beth Gutelius studies urban economic
development at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has spoken with
warehouse operators around the U.S.
She said human burnout is
a problem in warehouses where robotics
and artificial intelligence, or
AI software are being used. She
said that is because the robots add
more work and increase the pressure on workers to speed up their performance.
Recently, reporters investigated injury rates
at Amazon warehouses. They found that robotic
warehouses reported more injuries than those without the machines.
Reporters with the Center for Investigative
Reporting’s website Reveal studied records from 28 Amazon warehouses in 16
states. They found that the rate of serious injuries was more than two times
the warehousing industry average.
Amazon, however, says that it is misleading to
compare its rate with other companies. That is because the company says it has
an “aggressive stance on recording
injuries no matter how big or small.”
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