Is your job under threat from technology?

A few weeks ago we heard that experts were working on creating a robot that can learn, think and talk. The ‘iCub’ can crawl, see and hear and the next step is to teach it English. Now we’re reading about a new restaurant in Germany that has replaced its waiters with technology. Diners use touch-screen computers on their tables to place their orders, which are then transported to them via a rail system. With all this new technology being developed, it seems that it has already replaced the need for staff in the case of the German restaurant. Could we see many a job being phased out in years to come because of progressions in science? Maybe so, but I think we’re safe for a while yet. Until they make a robot that can give a friendly smile, smooth over problems with awkward clients and dream up clever new ideas, the PR and marketing world will just have to carry on employing people like us!