Jason Pyle, Harvey Nash USA President, discusses our latest Tech Flix documentary that focuses on AI and robotics. This article first appeared on Staffing Industry Analysts website.

Robots have fascinated us for decades — coming to life in theaters, TV and books. Often their capabilities are sensationalized, and they’re portrayed as more powerful than currently possible. But the introduction of AI is guaranteed to rapidly accelerate their advancement, potentially making their most futuristic potential a reality.

But are we ready for what happens when AI is used to build smarter robots? Nash Squared’s  Group Technology Evangelist David Savage has been exploring the topic with experts around the world in a series called AI and Robotics: A near future you’re not prepared for.

Here are some of the perspectives and ideas on how to be ready for what’s ahead.

Education at the Highest Level Is Critical

Yvan Petillot, professor of robotics and autonomous systems at Heriot-Watt University, is the joint academic lead at the National Robotarium in Scotland, which develops robotic, AI and automated technologies. He’s found that few companies have the expertise in robotics to understand their capabilities. In fact, business leaders often overestimate what they think robots can do.

There’s also a disconnect for young people when they enter the working world. In school and places like the Robotarium, students can be more experimental. But in the corporate world, they can be frustrated by a more conservative environment that doesn’t allow risk. Business leaders that don’t take the time to learn about AI and robotics often set unrealistic expectations, stifle creativity throughout the company, and deter employees from staying if they don’t feel empowered and respected.

The bottom line: Petillot believes it’s important for those at the highest level of an organization to educate themselves about AI and robotics to understand what’s actually possible now — and what may be possible in the future.

Policies Can Help if Done Right

Caroline Grant is a managing director at Slalom, a business and technology consulting firm. She’s found that the majority of companies are experimenting with AI, but it’s often not coordinated. For instance, individuals and departments may use AI to improve productivity, but they may not be doing it in deference to a specific business objective.

Internal AI policies can help ensure that investments will achieve strategic goals, but just 21% of companies have them in place. Some companies don’t have the necessary bandwidth or capabilities to develop them. Others are hesitant because they don’t want to retrofit their policies when government regulations come down.

But government leaders are still trying to strike a balance between fostering AI innovation and ensuring responsible development while also achieving international cooperation. In other words, there’s not going to be a quick fix and companies that hold off developing internal policies increase employee confusion, stymie innovation and invite security risks.

The bottom line: Work towards creating an internal AI policy, knowing new government regulations will cause these policies to evolve over time.

Governments Are Critical to Success

Stewart Miller, chief executive of the National Robotarium, says regulation is one way to make sure we get AI right — but it has to come with maximum benefit and minimum harm. He feels the responsibility lies with politicians, developers and the public to understand AI, how it can be used and its role in robotics.

Leaders like Ott Velsberg, government chief data officer of Estonia, think governments need to do more to help small and mid-size companies that struggle with large-scale AI development, let alone AI robots. Velsberg believes it’s too much for them to take on without help, and it’s up to the government to support open source and core tools.

The bottom line: Companies, governments and industry experts need to work together to develop regulations that help mitigate risk without impeding innovation.

Technology Is Always Pushing Us Forward

Ultimately, Miller says AI is going to have a positive impact — moving people out of jobs they don’t want and providing them with more skilled, interesting ones. Technology has been doing this since its introduction, and humans have always evolved. While AI and AI robotics are certainly a significant change, they promise to bring about more benefits than problems.

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