Apple iPad 3, Sony PlayStation 4 to be Built by Robots
Skynet has become self-aware…..not quite yet but Foxconn, the manufacturer who currently produce the PS3 as well as the current iPad, have announced their plans to replace even more factory staff with robots over the next 3 years.
Foxconn, based in Taiwan, annouced in a press conference that by as soon as 2014 it hopes to have in-excess of 1 million robot workers (great news for our silicon based friends but not so much for us carbon based blobs). As soon as next year Foxconn plan to expand their current robot workforce of 10,000 to 300,000.
Like most things in life these decisions have boiled down to money. Robots are cheaper and more efficient than humans. The mistreatment of its current staff has increased complaints from the workforce and probably gives the company even more reason to increase their obidient robot workforce.
Foxconn is infamous around the world for its level of complaints from staff. Low wages and poor working conditions have given Foxconn an abnormally high suicide rate amongst its employees. In 2010 14 Foxconn workers commited suicide and so far in 2011 there have been 3 more confirmed suicides.
Foxconn have not yet confirmed how many of its staff will be made redundant in the coming years as its plans are put into action. Currently China’s largest employer with over 1 million staff this annoucement will certainly make a few people unhappy.
