6 Fields Where Robots Are Taking Charge

Over the next decade, the number and variety of robots in the workplace will soar, taking over many jobs that are too dirty, too dull or too dangerous for people to do.

(Image credit: Courtesy Rethink Robotics)

Over the next decade, the number and variety of robots in the workplace will soar, taking over many jobs that are too dirty, too dull or too dangerous for people to do. Already, about 1.4 million industrial robots are deployed around the world, as well as several million robotic devices designed for in-home consumer use. And potential growth is vast: Only about 10% of possible industrial users, for example, have actually incorporated robots into their processes.

In time, the use of robotics will likely spawn millions of new American jobs in designing, building, monitoring and maintaining electronic workers, in fields yet imagined.But short term, robots will displace thousands of workers, especially in fields that draw heavily on low-wage labor and/or put a premium on rote consistency, accuracy and endurance.

Here are six areas where you'll see more robots.