Humans can work with digital counterparts to help our economy grow

NEWS outlets worldwide - including Singapore's - recently reported that robots will eliminate 85 million jobs at mid-sized to large businesses by 2025 as the pandemic accelerates changes in the workplace, citing a World Economic Forum (WEF) research study published in October.

In truth, robots and automation coming for our jobs is not just a modern concern. About 500 years ago, Queen Elizabeth I was rumoured to have turned down a patent for an automated knitting machine from inventor William Lee, due to her alleged fear for the fate of "the unprotected young maidens who obtain their daily bread by knitting".

In our current times, these fears are once again understandable, given the higher levels of unemployment and uncertainty. However, I believe that there is a long-term, positive case for automation and its transformative potential across all sorts of businesses in Singapore.