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So here's a data point: I work for a company https://6river.com/ https://6river.com/ that makes warehouse robots - or co-bots as our founders call them - and th

So here's a data point: I work for a company https://6river.com/ https://6river.com/ that makes warehouse robots - or co-bots as our founders call them - and the feedback we've gotten is the total opposite. Warehouse workers love our robots, we've had reports of workers leaving for higher paying jobs at other warehouse and returning specifically because our robots make the work so much easier. So I guess it depends on the work and the type of automation. I used a throwaway because I know my co-workers read HN!

petra 4y ago
I'm curious about something: Which warehousing niches(types/sizes of warehouses/companies) will automation get into, and which niches it won't ? And what will be the future jobs in a modern warehouse in 10 years ?
SamoyedFurFluff 4y ago
If this is true that would give a big opportunity for your company to release studies directly countering studies like the one you’re responding to. Is your company planning on doing so?
PhasmaFelis 4y ago
I also work for a warehouse automation company. (We make the integrating software, not the robots.) A few months ago, my team got an email from management saying that, thanks to our hard work, one of our clients had been able to lay off 40 people, roughly 50% of their staff. I was supposed to feel proud of myself for this.
- welshwelsh 4y ago
  I'd feel proud about that. Whichever way you slice it, reducing work is good. Humans shouldn't waste their time doing stuff that robots or computers can do just as well.
  - sobkas 4y ago
    > I'd feel proud about that. Whichever way you slice it, reducing work is good. Humans shouldn't waste their time doing stuff that robots or computers can do just as well. Problem is not reducing work, problem is that people need work to get salary that can be used to buy food, water, healthcare, shelter and other things one needs to survive. And at this point of capitalism there isn't a lot of room for growth. How many phones I would need to eat per year to support both automatisation and increased employment?
  - PhasmaFelis 4y ago
    Freeing people from wage slavery is good. Creating opportunities for people to live fulfilling lives free of endless drudgery is good. Working towards a world where no one is forced to justify their existence through labor is good. In the world as it currently exists, though, taking away people's financial support and forcing them to scrabble for another or face destitution and homelessness accomplishes none of those things. I'm actually kind of insulted that you think I'd think otherwise.

petra 4y ago

I'm curious about something: Which warehousing niches(types/sizes of warehouses/companies) will automation get into, and which niches it won't ? And what will be the future jobs in a modern warehouse in 10 years ?

SamoyedFurFluff 4y ago

If this is true that would give a big opportunity for your company to release studies directly countering studies like the one you’re responding to. Is your company planning on doing so?

PhasmaFelis 4y ago

I also work for a warehouse automation company. (We make the integrating software, not the robots.) A few months ago, my team got an email from management saying that, thanks to our hard work, one of our clients had been able to lay off 40 people, roughly 50% of their staff. I was supposed to feel proud of myself for this.

welshwelsh 4y ago
I'd feel proud about that. Whichever way you slice it, reducing work is good. Humans shouldn't waste their time doing stuff that robots or computers can do just as well.
- sobkas 4y ago
  > I'd feel proud about that. Whichever way you slice it, reducing work is good. Humans shouldn't waste their time doing stuff that robots or computers can do just as well. Problem is not reducing work, problem is that people need work to get salary that can be used to buy food, water, healthcare, shelter and other things one needs to survive. And at this point of capitalism there isn't a lot of room for growth. How many phones I would need to eat per year to support both automatisation and increased employment?
- PhasmaFelis 4y ago
  Freeing people from wage slavery is good. Creating opportunities for people to live fulfilling lives free of endless drudgery is good. Working towards a world where no one is forced to justify their existence through labor is good. In the world as it currently exists, though, taking away people's financial support and forcing them to scrabble for another or face destitution and homelessness accomplishes none of those things. I'm actually kind of insulted that you think I'd think otherwise.