What impact will the widespread adoption of humanoid robots have on the existing economic structure and job market?

好的，关于这个问题，我谈谈我的看法。这事儿其实没那么复杂，也别想得太科幻，咱们可以把它想象成一次超级加强版的工业革命。

For us ordinary people, the most direct impact is: jobs gone, or jobs upgraded?

This needs to be looked at from two perspectives.

1. Some jobs might truly be saying goodbye

It's like when cars became widespread, the profession of coachman gradually disappeared. Humanoid robots will first replace jobs that are highly repetitive, physically demanding, and somewhat dangerous.

• Factory assembly line workers: Screwing, moving boxes, quality inspection... robots can do these tasks tirelessly and more precisely than humans.
• Construction workers: Laying bricks, working at heights, transporting building materials – these tiring and dangerous jobs are perfectly suited for robots.
• Cleaners, security guards: Routine patrols and cleaning in malls and office buildings; once programmed, robots can work 24/7.
• Some service staff: Such as preparing and delivering meals in fast-food restaurants, or even simple coffee making.

In short, jobs that rely more on "manual labor and physical strength" than "brainpower and creativity" will be the first to be impacted.

2. But at the same time, many new jobs you can't imagine now will emerge

It's like how professions such as "streamers," "content creators (UPs)," "programmers," and "e-commerce operators" only emerged after the internet boomed. With the widespread adoption of robots, new "job opportunities" will also appear:

• Robot "caretakers" and "veterinarians": Robots also need maintenance, upkeep, and repairs, right? Someone will have to give them "check-ups," and fix them if their systems break down. These are high-skilled blue-collar jobs, requiring significant technical expertise.
• Robot "teachers": Robots need to be trained to perform tasks better. You'll need to teach them how to carry trays more steadily, or how to interact with people more naturally. This is what's known as an "AI trainer."
• Robot "directors" and "screenwriters": You'll need to plan how robots in an entire factory or restaurant will collaborate, designing their processes and interactions, much like choreographing a play for a group of robot actors.
• Ethics and legal experts: If a robot hits someone, who is responsible? How should damages caused by robots be compensated? These questions require new laws and regulations to define, and thus, relevant experts will be needed.

So, it's not that jobs will disappear, but rather that the demands on people will change. Previously, you might have been required to be physically strong and nimble; in the future, you might be more required to be adaptable, creative, and capable of solving complex problems.

For the entire economic structure, this is a major reshuffle

1. A surge in productivity, things might become cheaper

Robots can work 24/7 without interruption, and their costs, apart from initial purchase and subsequent electricity and maintenance fees, are much lower than employing people. This means extremely high production efficiency, and the cost of many goods (like cars, mobile phones) and services will significantly decrease. For consumers, this is a good thing.

2. The definitions of "worker" and "boss" will become more blurred

Previously, a boss would fund a factory and hire workers. In the future, a single person might be able to "employ" a team of robots. For example, a designer could buy or rent several construction robots, take on building projects themselves, and be both the boss and the sole "employee." Individuals will be able to accomplish more and more, and the capabilities of small companies, or even individual studios, will become immense.

3. Wealth disparity might become a major issue

This is the point that requires the most vigilance. If the immense wealth generated by robots is concentrated only in the hands of the small minority who own and manufacture them, while the majority lose their income due to job displacement, then society will become very unstable.

How to solve this? This is precisely what the world is currently discussing:

• Implement a "robot tax": Companies that replace human labor with robots would pay a portion of tax, and this money would be used for social welfare.
• Introduce "Universal Basic Income" (UBI): Regardless of whether you work or not, the government would provide you with a basic living allowance each month, ensuring you don't starve. This would allow you to calmly learn new skills or engage in less lucrative but meaningful activities, such as art or public service.
• Shorten working hours: For example, working three days a week, or even two. Since robots would handle most of the work, people wouldn't need to be as tired and could have more time for life, entertainment, and creation.

In summary

Overall, the widespread adoption of humanoid robots is like a double-edged sword.

• It will eliminate old, repetitive jobs, but also give rise to new, more creative ones.
• It will elevate our productivity to unprecedented levels, but also bring severe challenges in social wealth distribution.

For us ordinary people, instead of worrying about whether our jobs will be replaced, it's better to consider: What can robots not do?

• Creativity, imagination
• Complex interpersonal communication, emotional interaction
• Strategic, critical thinking
• Empathy and humanistic care

In the future, these "human" qualities will be our most valuable "jobs." Instead of competing with robots on who can screw faster, it's better to collaborate with them, letting them be our tools, while we become the ones who use these tools to create value.