Research shows that cities are not affected by the social and economic impact of robots

From serving meals in restaurants to cleaning airports, robots are becoming more and more common in society, but are our policies ready to be maintained?

A study from Monash University found that some of the world’s leading robotic cities lacked appropriate policies to protect the interests of their citizens.

The study, published in the Journal of Asian Public Policy, analyzed six cities across Asia to assess how they are using more robots to prepare for the future in public spaces. Cities in Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo were chosen based on high robot density.

This study examined seven key areas of concern, including safety, privacy and ethics, productivity, aesthetics, co-creation, equitable access, and innovation.

Safety concerns are generally addressed, but this study found attention to other issues affecting economic and social well-being.

Monash School of Social Sciences Prime Minister Michael Mintrom said one concern is that governments rarely engage with citizens and learn about their hopes and fears about the growing presence of robots.

“Only in Taipei, Tokyo and Shanghai did this research and found policy interest in co-design,” Professor Mintrom said.

“It’s a policy design gap and it’s a curious thing. Governments often express their interest in promoting innovation in the application of robots in society, which is certainly a good thing.

Researchers also warned against policies that leave many decisions to use for the robot design and the companies that create them.

Associate Professor Shanti Sumartojo, co-author of Monash Art, Design and Architecture, said the study highlighted the policy challenges of catching up to areas of rapidly moving public concern, such as emerging technologies, climate change and social change.

“We want to learn how policymaking practices can move beyond responding to forecasting instead,” Associate Professor Smartho said.

“Co-design will help policymakers develop predictive approaches to address policy challenges in the rapidly moving world.”

Professor Mintrom said that while robots can provide great benefits to society, more work is needed to minimize the risk of negative outcomes.

“Robots are becoming an accepted part of the world around us both domestically and publicly,” Professor Mintrom said.

“Getting into robots will soon have a presence. Now is the time for governments to engage with citizens and gain insight into what the future looks like with robots.

“How do we live together? What are the desired changes? What should we work to protect? These are not difficult questions. But they are questions that are pushed out too often as governments respond to the latest technology that appears on our streets.”

Researchers hope that their findings will lead to better policy design in Australia for integrating robots into public spaces.