General-Purpose Robotics and Society: Assessing Economic, Environmental and Human Implications of Autonomous Machines

Goldie Nejat

General-Purpose Robotics and Society: Assessing Economic, Environmental and Human Implications of Autonomous Machines

Author(s)	Goldie Nejat
Country	United States
Abstract	Advances in artificial intelligence, machine perception, dexterous manipulation, mobility, and adaptive control are gradually extending robotics beyond machines designed for one predefined industrial operation. General-purpose robots are intended to perform multiple tasks, operate across changing environments, learn from demonstrations or experience, and collaborate with people. Their possible applications include manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, construction, healthcare, domestic assistance, environmental monitoring, disaster response, and public infrastructure. Such breadth creates significant economic and social opportunities but also expands the range of risks associated with automation. This study develops a simulation-based assessment of the economic, environmental, and human implications of general-purpose robotics. The framework evaluates potential benefits and risk exposure across three domains. The simulated benefit scores were 88 for economic systems, 76 for environmental systems, and 81 for human and social systems. The corresponding risk-exposure scores were 72, 64, and 79. These values are illustrative scenario outputs rather than empirical societal-impact estimates. The comparison suggests that economic benefits may arise from productivity, flexible production, hazardous-task substitution, and service capacity. Environmental benefits may result from precision resource use, infrastructure monitoring, repair, and improved circularity. Human benefits may include safer work, accessibility, assistance, and expanded capability. The analysis also identifies substantial risks. Employment displacement and unequal ownership can concentrate economic gains. Robot manufacturing and operation may increase energy demand, mineral consumption, and electronic waste. Human implications include physical safety, surveillance, reduced autonomy, skill erosion, unequal access, and unclear accountability. The study concludes that general-purpose robotics should not be evaluated solely through technical performance or adoption rates. Responsible deployment requires lifecycle environmental assessment, worker participation, safety assurance, transparent data governance, human-directed control, and policies that distribute productivity gains broadly.
Keywords	: general-purpose robotics; autonomous machines; future of work; environmental impact; human–robot interaction; responsible robotics; automation; societal implications.
Field	Engineering
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-07-07

View / Download PDF File

About AJAMRI Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics Peer Review & Plagiarism	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Reviewer Referral Program Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us		+1-872-302-3851	editor@ajamri.com

American Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

General-Purpose Robotics and Society: Assessing Economic, Environmental and Human Implications of Autonomous Machines

Share this