How To Avoid Being Replaced By a Robot

Driverless cars. Smart stores. Bartenders, pharmacists, and journalists replaced by algorithms and machines. Attorneys and surgeons could be the next humans replaced by robots. Is this your future, too? What can humans do that robots can't?

Humans can feel.

Humans can dream.

Humans can dance.

Humans can empathize.

Humans can influence.

Humans can lead.

Robots can be trained (or, in the future, train themselves) to do complex as well as simple tasks. They can learn from their mistakes. They can make decisions based on data. They can put objects or ideas together in unusual ways, mimicking human creative thinking. They can even be programmed to write passable poetry or music. But for the foreseeable future, at least, they won't have human needs or emotions. They won't hunger for relationships and experiences. They won't fall hopelessly in love with a person or an idea. They won't be driven to pursue a lost cause until it becomes a reality. They won't burn the midnight oil arguing with friends who disagree until they don't. They won't move others to heal conflict, change minds, reduce fear, open hearts, experience joy.

So...how can you avoid being replaced by a sophisticated robot? Keep developing yourself as a communicative, influential, enthusiastic, imaginative, daring, humble, struggling, caring, fun-loving, curious, changeable, impassioned human being.