Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and the Future of Work: Innovation, Job Displacement, and Economic Transformation

Abstract

This article examines the economic and social implications of artificial intelligence and robotics for the future of work, with particular attention to the gradual but potentially profound transformation of labor markets, productive organization, and institutional responsibility. It argues that automation should not be interpreted only as a technical process or as an immediate threat to employment, but as a long-term historical transition whose consequences will depend on the speed of innovation, the distribution of productivity gains, and the capacity of firms, trade unions, governments, and international institutions to manage change before social disruption becomes irreversible. The analysis considers the risk of job displacement, skill obsolescence, and inequality, while also recognizing the possibility that robotics and artificial intelligence may relieve human beings from repetitive or dangerous tasks and support new forms of collective development. In a wider perspective, the article reflects on the possible weakening of the traditional economy of money, the growing tension between capital accumulation and social inclusion, and the need for institutional instruments capable of protecting income and dignity in a world where work may no longer occupy the same central position. Finally, the discussion connects technological transformation with the energy question, especially the persistence of fossil fuels and the future promise of clean and almost inexhaustible sources such as nuclear fusion. The central thesis is that the future will not be determined by technology alone, but by humanity’s ability to govern artificial intelligence, robotics, energy transition, and global economic institutions within a broader search for a new civilization still without a name.