A potential strike by casino workers in Las Vegas was averted, but their concerns over automation will likely remain. In addition, this week saw IBM laying off employees in its Watson Health division, and China launching facial recognition efforts in Africa.
Robotics Business Review has partnered with Abishur Prakash at Center for Innovating the Future to provide its readers with cutting-edge insights into recent developments in international robotics, AI, and unmanned systems. Are you ready to be updated?
Automation among concerns of Las Vegas casino unions
Robotics developments: On June 1, a deal between the Culinary and Bartenders Unions and several large hospitality companies in Las Vegas, including MGM, expired. The unions represent around 38,000 workers. During negotiations over a new deal, many workers threatened to strike unless protections against automation were included, among other things. To avert the strike, individual companies, such as Caesars and MGM, have formed new deals with the unions.
Geopolitical significance: As unions clash against automation efforts, this could slow down its adoption. In February, Canada’s Suncor Energy announced 400 workers would lose their jobs to self-driving cars. The union representing these workers bashed the decision and demanded that no full-time workers would be laid off.
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