Is The Fourth Industrial Revolution Here? Human Workers Fused With Machines

Over the last few centuries, the world has undergone three industrial revolutions. The first involved steam technology, which was then followed by the assembly line, and finally by electronics. With the advent of new technology that basically augments human abilities, many are theorizing that the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industrie 4.0 is finally here.

A PDF paper by Roland Berger goes into detail as to what makes this era the start of the Industrie 4.0 and what it means to humanity. For the most part, it basically results in a paradigm shift with regards to the manufacturing processes that companies use. This involves either fusing human workers with machines in order to make the production of goods easier or the removal of humans altogether.

“There is more to Industrie 4.0 than its technical dimension. Technologies like factory virtualization, smart and intelligent machines, the IoT, the cyber production system, 3D technology, [r]obots determine the debate,” the paper reads. “Many are available already or emerging. Companies have launched pilot projects in which they try to embed these technologies in their current manufacturing process. Few, however, have genuinely exploited their potential to the full and implemented new models.”

As Futurism notes, many of the most demanding, dangerous, or downright destructive tasks in manufacturing have been given to machines. With regards to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, however, it goes a lot deeper than that.

When it comes to modern economy, data mining and bulk analysis have become as important as physical labor. These tasks are being entrusted to Artificial Intelligence more and more.

For the most part, what remains of the human workforce will theoretically be provided with augmented suits and interfaces to boost their physical and administrative capabilities. Most of the more mundane and cumbersome tasks will then automated, thus freeing the rest of the workforce to shift their focus on other aspects.