Robert: Robots could expand beyond menial tasks into caregiving roles

A new article in Axios outlines how a combination of technological advances, a demand for help with household tasks, and a labor shortage are all driving the “robot revolution.”

Robots are excelling at labor-saving tasks, including everything from burger flipping to grocery deliveries to planting crops. But their use is expanding into more complex, nuanced tasks where human interaction is at the heart of the work. 

Lionel Robert, associate professor at University of Michigan School of Information, tells Axios that robots are poised to be caregivers for people, especially the elderly. Robots could handle household tasks like cooking and cleaning, and could also provide care and companionship. 

A robot health care worker "could take care of us, tell a story, cook and clean," says Robert. "So they could do the messy work, but they could also be our friend — and take our pulse and blood pressure."

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Read “Welcome to the summer of robots” on axios.com.

Learn more about associate professor Lionel Robert.