Hyundai's CEO, José Muñoz, has made a bold statement, reassuring workers that AI and robots won't steal their jobs. This comes as the car giant embarks on a massive tech push by 2028, with plans to rapidly scale up its robotics operations alongside its classic car-making business. The company's push into robotics is already causing anxiety among workers and union bosses, who fear the potential job displacement. However, Muñoz's statement and the company's strategy suggest a different approach.
Muñoz emphasizes that robots are in service of humans, taking on difficult and repetitive tasks to improve safety, quality, and efficiency. He highlights the creation of new job categories, such as global maintenance, and the maximization of human potential. This perspective is supported by the company's plans to build a factory capable of producing up to 30,000 robots a year by 2028, and its focus on training and testing robots in real-world manufacturing environments.
The sophisticated robots, like the Atlas humanoid, are designed to learn most tasks within a single day, reducing physical strain on workers. Hyundai is also exploring the potential for an entire business around these machines, including selling robots through its dealer network and financing robot purchases. This comprehensive approach to robotics integration is a key aspect of the company's broader plan to transform by 2030, following record revenue.
However, the scale of the plan did not impress investors, with Hyundai shares falling slightly after the CEO Investor Day presentation. This reaction highlights the challenges of managing public perception and expectations in the face of significant technological advancements. Despite the initial anxiety, Muñoz's statement and the company's strategy suggest a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to integrating robotics into the workforce, potentially offering a new perspective on the future of work.
