Automation and robotics are the buzzwords in industry right now.  While robotics has been around in manufacturing, white-collar jobs are now starting to be automated.  Financial services firms in Australia want to take out cost, improve quality and reduce risk using automation.

For the ordinary person on the street, the question is whether they and their children will have jobs in the future.  Or will the introduction of robotics and automation allow us to stop doing the mundane parts of our jobs and focus on the interesting parts such as creation, socialisation, etc?

What does it mean for the investor?  Robotics have allowed companies to produce more, at better quality, and at a lower cost.  While some businesses and industries did not survive, investors (and society) have benefited through productivity gains.

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