The world of artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, and robots are replacing roles left and right. From factory workers, financial assistants, and even athletes, robots are being built to fill in these jobs and occupations. The worlds of education, dining, and entertainment are metamorphosing for the better and worse due to replacement from AI as well, and here’s why!
In China, robots are now acting as teachers in different classrooms. In Hefei, China, Xiao An made history as the first human-sized robot to teach in a school. The bionic robot was developed by Wulan Technology and began teaching science lessons at the Primary School Affiliated to Hefei Normal School in October 2025. While Xiao An can teach scientific curriculum, the robot can display facial expressions, smile, detect emotions, perform gestures, interact with students, and carry a conversation! In more than 600 kindergartens across China, Keeko robots have brought children delight with their puzzle-solving activities and storytelling aid. Under 2 feet tall, these robots can talk, sing, dance, teach basic math skills, and play games with students. Teachers also have the option to import educational materials of their choice into the Keekos to enhance the learning environment. However, the world of AI in schools has received backlash regarding a brand of AI headbands worn by students in classrooms. The BrainCo FOCUS headbands track a human’s attention and focus span with electroencephalogram sensors designed to track brain wave movements. It has the ability to detect when a student is concentrated, and even when they are daydreaming! A data report is then sent to teachers and parents regarding the child’s attention and distraction levels. While they may be helpful in analyzing which students need a little more help in school, the headbands have received significant backlash related to their controlling and micromanaging tendencies. Students reported that after wearing the headbands, they were disciplined by their parents and felt additional anxiety because their thoughts were always being monitored by the technology!
Robots are now serving as waiters and bussers in restaurants around the world. From convenient ordering kiosks located in the front of restaurants to electronic servers transporting food to and from customers, technology has enhanced the speed of dining and delivery! Fast food chains such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Burger King, Shake Shack, Panera, and many more have placed ordering kiosks in their restaurants to enhance their customers’ experience with quicker wait-times for meals. Door Dash has created its own robot, Dot, which is a wheeled container designed to deliver food orders in short distances. Dot has been programmed to drive on public roads, paths, sidewalks, and other areas of traffic to properly complete a delivery. It can even navigate construction zones and pull over for emergency vehicles! But not everyone is thrilled with this idea of robots taking over these roles. They can malfunction, and the authentic interaction between customers and human waiters/waitresses doesn’t exist in these settings.
In the entertainment industry, robots are being used as stunt doubles, backup dancers, and actors! They are transforming show business by performing as scripted characters and lead roles in live shows, singing on stage, playing instruments, and more! Two Japanese Scientists named Hiroshi Ishiguro and Kohei Ogawa created a robot named Erica in 2015. In 2020, Life Entertainment and Bondit Capital Media made history when Erica was the very first robot-cast lead role in a $70 million upcoming Hollywood Film. Titled b, the story follows a scientist who helps a robot escape a laboratory. Erica’s role as a robot in the script is the primary reason she was developed to portray it. However, Erica has never had any experience in the field and needed significant programming to display the right emotions, body language, movements, and other forms of character building. Even background actors are starting to lose jobs to AI! Disney and other major film companies are using artificial intelligence to replace background extras. Production teams are digitally scanning the faces of extras and using those details to create CGI background characters in additional scenes to reduce the need to hire other actors.
In conclusion, robots and artificial intelligence are continuing to replace jobs and careers around the world in different capacities. They are teaching in schools, taking and delivering meals, and even performing on stage and on television. Which change surprised you the most?
Sources
https://about.doordash.com/en-us/dot
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/free-resources/reading/b1/robot-teachers
https://phys.org/news/2018-08-robot-teachers-invade-chinese-kindergartens.html
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/ai-robot-cast-lead-role-70m-sci-fi-film-1300068/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMLsHI8aV0g&t=4s
