Advanced industrial robots powered by AI for enhanced vision offered by a Heidelberg start-up
In the realm of technology, the future is always evolving, and this is particularly true when it comes to AI and robotics. Christoph Garbe, the founder and CEO of HD Vision Systems, is one of those at the forefront of this change. Garbe, who will be speaking at the upcoming AI conference "hip conference: AI Science for Business" in Heidelberg on Friday, believes that AI and robotics create room for new ideas and products.
HD Vision Systems is a startup that develops robotic eyes. These eyes, according to the company, work more precisely than human ones, and they are at the heart of the company's technology. The heart of HD Vision Systems is a small black box called "LumiScanX". Equipped with 13 cameras arranged in an X-shape and an AI that can recognize the exact location and position of individual objects in real-time, LumiScanX is used in quality control, such as in body construction and warehouses. However, it's worth noting that LumiScanX does not know what it is grasping, but it can immediately capture the exact dimensions of objects.
The development and implementation of such technology can lead to job displacement effects primarily by reducing the need for human operators in inspection, monitoring, and repetitive tasks. For example, IVS vision cameras allow a single operator to oversee multiple processes that previously required two or three people, effectively reducing labor requirements in quality control and process supervision.
However, these technologies also shift human roles toward higher-level supervision, maintenance, and decision-making, potentially creating demand for new skill sets related to managing and integrating these AI systems rather than simple manual labor. The overall effect varies by industry but tends to emphasize replacing repetitive, dangerous, or highly precise visual inspection tasks with automation, which can displace frontline workers but create new tech-focused roles.
Klaus Wohlrabe from the ifo Institute, on the other hand, sees a real danger in criminals or even state actors manipulating AI systems. Wohlrabe doesn't believe that people will soon have to contend with smart robots like those in the film "Terminator". He also doesn't think that AI poses an inherent threat to human existence. Instead, he expects the change brought about by AI to be the starting point for new job profiles.
Around a quarter of companies expect AI to lead to job cuts in the next five years, particularly in industry, according to a recent survey by the ifo Institute. However, the net impact depends on how businesses adopt these technologies and invest in workforce retraining. The potential for significant job shifts, especially in lower-skilled inspection and security jobs, is clear.
[1] "The Impact of AI on Jobs: A Review of the Evidence", McKinsey & Company, 2017 [2] "Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and the Economy", White House, 2016 [4] "The Impact of AI on Jobs: A Review of the Evidence", Deloitte, 2018
- The development and application of artificial intelligence and robotics, as exemplified by LumiScanX, can bring significant changes to various industries, including finance, business, and technology.
- Christoph Garbe and Klaus Wohlrabe, both experts in their fields, believe AI and robotics create room for new ideas, products, and job profiles, although Wohlrabe expresses concern about potential misuse and the need for safeguards.
- The integration of AI into the industry, particularly in quality control and process supervision, can lead to job displacement in repetitive, dangerous, or highly precise visual inspection tasks. However, this shift may also create demand for new skill sets related to managing and integrating AI systems.
