This presentation will examine the growing role of robots and computerized systems in modern society. On the one hand such technological advancements promise greater efficiency and effectiveness in both manufacturing and service industries, relieving humans from dangerous and undesirable jobs and heralds a new age of greater leisure, productivity, and creativity.

On the other hand, given that this revolution is built on the foundations of socio-economic inequality and motivations that focus primarily on efficiency and profit maximization, important ethical issues and problems can readily be seen.

Central topics in this presentation include issues of job displacement, socio-cultural transformations threatening human subservience to robot workers, automated decision centers and implementation agents. Central questions include the following:

1.  What are the motivating factors behind this revolution?

2. Who gains and who benefits from the continuing encroachment of robots into human society?

3. How does/would increasing robotization of society affect socio-cultural and social-       psychological issues of identity for modern humans?

4. What are some important ethical considerations regarding the role, place and identity of              human members of society?

5. Were the Luddites right after all?