Technological advancement has made it possible for robots and artificial intelligence to perform some tasks faster and more accurately than humans. That’s why it’s no wonder that discussions about machines replacing people are so recurrent. However, if it depends on Brazilian startups, work is being done so that there is a balance in this relationship.
Technologies will reduce risks and streamline activities without deleting the role of the worker. That’s what Luma Boaventura, CEO and co-founder of AI Robots advocates, focusing on using robotics and AI to optimize processes in industries.
“Technology did not come to replace, but to complement professionals and bring more quality of life to us”, said the executive during her participation in a lecture on “The future of robotics”, held at the South Summit event, in Porto Alegre, this Thursday (5). Traditionally held in Madrid (Spain) since 2012, this is the first time that the meeting on innovation has taken place in Brazil.
Uses of robots and artificial intelligence
An example given by Boaventura in his presentation was that of a pulp producer customer. Every time bales with the product had to be placed on trains to be transported, a worker had to move the heavy wagon door to insert the load inside, facing the risk of accident and ergonomic discomfort. To resolve the issue, a robot was integrated into the process.
“The worker is still there, but he no longer performs the function of dragging the door, which was the most critical. He does the opening, which is very delicate [para] the robot does, and the robot does the heavy process of moving the door”, he explains. “This is the future of robotics, seeing it as serving the human being. We need to acculturate the people of Brazil so that they lose their fear [das tecnologias].”
The startup AI Robots, founded in 2019, works by installing robots manufactured by two foreign companies: the Danish Universal Robots and the Japanese Omron. Among the clients served, there are companies in the steel, automotive and retail sectors.
In addition, the machines can be hired to solve specific demands, such as counting stock on shelves and monitoring the robots themselves — if a defect can be predicted in one of the robots, for example, it is possible to carry out the repair without the line of production is stopped.
In another South Summit panel, focused on the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, Henrique Dias, data scientist and founder of NoHarm.ai, also argued that technology will hardly replace people.
Its startup, created within PUC-RS, makes technology available free of charge to SUS (Unified Health System) hospitals, using artificial intelligence to assist Clinical Pharmacy in reviewing prescriptions given to patients. The non-profit company’s remuneration comes from working with private hospitals.
The artificial intelligence was programmed to work with the hospital’s electronic medical record. It reads patient information, especially prescriptions, and generates a set of alerts. The speed of the review process, he says, increased eightfold in one of the hospitals, using the same number of staff.
“Intelligence is a means, just like the cell phone or any other technology. It will help, improve processes, automate tasks, but I will need the human being to make the decision. an AI”, explains the data scientist.
“I need a doctor to validate because AI can make mistakes and I need the subjectivity of this problem, which will be solved by a human”, he adds.
In the panel mediated by Dias, when he presented the same question to the other participants, Renato Cardoso, executive president of the platform “Dr. Consulta”, denied the possibility of a future where artificial intelligence will dispense with the human professional.
“Data analysis brings efficiency. But in health there is the issue of humanism, touch, comfort, this is part of the treatment, affection. Humanity will not be replaced, but data generate efficiency and improve the doctor’s capacity”, he highlighted.
The use of technology also helps to make computational models more predictive (systems that predict certain situations based on data), avoiding complications and reducing high-complexity treatment costs, for example, points out Cardoso.
“Five years ago, I gave lectures, there were three or four startups using artificial intelligence. Today, there are no startups in health that don’t use them. If they don’t use them, they’ll lose market share. It’s industry standard”, highlights Dias.
Educate about the benefits of technology
Luma’s company, which does not have a physical location since the team’s work is done remotely, also works with artificial intelligence, but she believes that demand is still a little lower than for robotics in Brazil, with the country just entering. in the so-called industry 4.0 scenario.
Anyway, the executive highlights how important it is for human professionals to understand how technologies can help them in their activities.
“There’s no way to bring technology without people. First, we take technology education, make a field visit to the industry, understand with managers and operators where the bottlenecks are. operator realizes that he is part of the process, not an excluded person”, he concludes.
