In the future robots will not only replace factory workers and employees with medium skills, but also employees with high skills in positions which require strong judgment, such as lawyers and judges, according to Richard Freedman, professor of Harvard University.

“The lawyers are just as likely to lose their jobs as the truck drivers or factory workers […] The robots can make burgers and control dishwashers, but in the future the so-called ‘white collar’ jobs will also be affected,” the professor estimated while addressing a conference of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (cedefop) entitled “Impact of technology and workplace change on skill needs,” which was held in Thessaloniki.

Indeed, the prospect of robots – bosses is also “on the table”, as for example, in Amazon’s warehouses, portable robotic devices are responsible for monitoring the employees’ working hours.

“We are entering a new world where machines are gradually becoming more human than humans while not making mistakes or having prejudices,” noted Professor Freedman, who has been awarded with the Mincer and IZA prizes,.

However, he added, the role of humans is not downgraded. “I am very optimistic about the future of the humans […] In the future we will find new things to do,” he said.