Artificial Intelligence, or AI as it is more commonly known, and automation is this weeks discussion point for SOE. After visiting quite a number of factories on our innovation tour of Shenzhen, there was definitely a noticeable trend towards automation in manufacturing for some businesses and not others. The tour group discuss this and it's implications (along with others) to try and make sense of it. Automation is not new to the world with the Luddites smashing the Cotten Gins in the early 1800's, inventions such as the Combine Harvester, Robotics in car manufacturing, CNC of all sorts of machines, etc bringing about changes to the labour force. However, the recent improvements in AI (machine learning and neural networks in particularly) and a desire to implement it, is making it possible for manufacturers to remove most of the "human component" of their processes. These aren't just the obvious, repetitive type of processing jobs but many roles previously thought "safe" from automation/AI like legal researchers, medical staff and even programming/design roles. Many on our tour group have real concerns about jobs, careers and even what humans will do with themselves ultimately. The discussion is very much the results of our tour and our newly learnt knowledge of what is possible in manufacturing specifically, today.

For more on Hytera EMS visit their website here: http://www.hyteraems.com
For more about HLH Prototypes, visit http://www.hlhprototypes.com
For more information about Kaier Wo visit http://www.prototypeinchina.com
For more about LIFX visit https://www.lifx.com
For more about HardworX visit https://www.hardworx.io
For more about this series visit https://www.stateofelectronics.com
For more about Jon Oxer visit https://www.superhouse.tv
For more about Tom Partridge visit https://www.tectonica.net

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NOTE on "comment" policy: Please understand that this video neither condones nor comments on reputation, labour practices, and other standards, in particular relating to safety. It is intended for educational purposes only, allowing you the viewer to participate in our tour. The company has kindly opened its doors to us and allowed us to come and see what they can do in a free and open manner. State of Electronics respects this and asks that you do so as well. This video has no sponsorship or other influences from the company highlighted. The comments made by participants are the result of this personal tour and their personal opinions on what they witnessed and understood. However, State of Electronics does understand that some of it's viewers will have concerns about standards. Please do not post comments relating to your opinions on safety or other labour practices to this video as they vary greatly from country to country and subsequently will be deleted. Express your views in your own video, using your own footage, and put your name to it to make it count. Thank you for your understanding.