Building robot McDonald’s staff ‘cheaper’ than hiring workers on minimum wage, by Jessica Haworth.

A former McDonald’s CEO warned that robots will take over staff jobs at the fast food empire – because it’s cheaper than employing humans. … He warned that huge job losses are imminent, and commented that it would be ‘common sense’ to replace humans in the workplace. …

“It’s cheaper to buy a $35,000 (£24,000) robotic arm than it is to hire an employee who’s inefficient making $15 (£10.20) an hour bagging French fries. ….

Robots are coming in many areas:

This comes as a study into the future of human employment has predicted a surge in machine-led work such as robotic counsellors, body part makers and virtual lawyers. The worrying research, by professor of management practice at London Business School, Lynda Gratton, and futurologist David A. Smith, suggests that humans will be replaced because robots are able to produce better results.

Prof Gratton said: “Studies have suggested that a third of jobs in Europe will be replaced by technology over the next two decades.”