Value of Robots : A Literature Review

Abstract

With the advancement of technology, Artificial intelligence (AI) has critically influenced everyday life. The businesses have embraced robots as a result and consumer interactions have become conventional. Therefore, applications-based research on robots has been studied widely from a technical perspective. However, scientific researches concerning the value of robots are scarce. Moreover, existing literature on robots does not directly address the value of robots for individuals and organizations.

The objective of this thesis is to discuss and identify the values of AI-based robots for individuals and organizations. The author has carried out a literature review based on articles that value robots from two bibliographic databases. Research contexts, theoretical base and the critical findings indicating the values were recorded to clarify each selected article.

The theoretical background contains definitions, classifications of robots, and the value of technology in general. The emphasis on humanoid social robots creates the novelty of the thesis. Mainly, the value factors of robots are studied through applications.

The findings show that both individuals and organizations have value factors when robots are adapted in various instances such as healthcare, travel, tourism and education. Regarding the individual values, mainly consumer values that consist of functional, social, epistemic, conditional and emotional value are claimed. Moreover, monitory value, technical value, flexibility, availability, convenience and efficiency are also identified as values experienced by individuals. From the organizations' perspective, automation, cost reduction, economies of scale, innovativeness, and solution to human-resource-related issues are identified as critical values rendered by AI-based robots. Further, by comparing humans and robots as employees, additional value factors concerning human resources are recognized as efficiency, accuracy, up-gradability and unlimited capacity. Also, the importance of balancing humans and robots by forming human-robot teams is highlighted to gain maximum productivity and to overcome the social impacts. In conclusion, this review shows that the realization of robots' values is vital when moving forward to a collaborative future with robots.