Why Robots Are Getting Less Work at U.S. Factories

WSJ Tech News Briefing

The Wall Street Journal

News, Tech News

4.3 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 9 October 2024

⏱️ 11 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

During the Covid-19 pandemic, many factory owners invested heavily in automation as the best way to meet customer demand. But now, factories are adding fewer new robots as production slows and more human workers take on manufacturing jobs. WSJ reporter Bob Tita and host Zoe Thomas discuss why some companies say adding new robots is no longer worth the investment. Plus, a look at some new tech that could one day make it easier to improve your dental hygiene. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Robert Halfe research indicates 9 out of 10 hiring managers are having difficulty hiring.
0:06.0	Robert Half is here to help.
0:08.0	Our recruiting professionals utilize our proprietary AI to connect businesses with highly skilled talent.
0:14.7	At Robert Haff, we know talent.
0:17.1	Visit Robert Haff.com today.
0:19.7	Welcome to Tech News Briefing. It's Wednesday, October 9th. I'm Zoe Thomas for the Wall Street Journal.
0:30.0	Today we're talking about robots machines that automate tasks that humans don't always
0:36.2	want to do.
0:37.7	Tasks like keeping your smile bright.
0:40.0	In the future, micro robots could brush your teeth and dental implants could come with
0:45.1	built-in technology to help your oral health.
0:48.7	But while researchers work on these high-tech tools purchases of factory robots like ones that help assemble goods or down.
0:56.4	We'll explain why companies are buying less of these robots and what that could mean for the future
1:01.6	of manufacturing.
1:02.8	But first, how well do you floss? How long do you brush your teeth for? How good is your oral health overall?
1:16.0	Researchers are working on ways to help improve the state of your smile without all that brushing and flossing.
1:23.4	Kala Yup, who reported on this for the W.S.J. is here to help us brush up on some of the latest discoveries
1:29.6	that could transform oral health.
1:32.1	So Kila, let's start with some basics. Cleaning your teeth.
1:36.0	You reported that researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are looking into
1:39.9	micro robots to help. Those are small devices made up of nanoparticles. How would that work?
1:46.6	So there's this automated device being tested where at the push of a button a storm of
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