Skip to content
Tech News
← Back to articles

New year, old me

read original more articles
Why This Matters

This story highlights the evolving relationship between humans and robots in the workplace, emphasizing how automation and AI are increasingly integrated into corporate culture. It underscores the importance for the tech industry to consider the social and organizational impacts of automation, especially as robots take on roles traditionally held by humans, influencing workplace dynamics and employee well-being.

Key Takeaways

The worst thing about having a human boss was definitely the year-end parties. Not that work retreats were any better. And don’t get me started on the retirement parties.

But year-end parties were always a nightmare of speeches, gag gifts and forced jokes. Who wants to be included in all that, anyway? I’m a robot, remember?

I just wanted to go home and recharge my batteries. Literally.

And I had a bad feeling about this year. And this new boss, too. Albert. Human. Relentlessly cheerful. And now walking straight towards me with a smile and an outstretched arm.

“9K!” Albert exclaimed, grinning as though my appearance were a personal gift. “You made it! Fantastic! Doesn’t it feel good to unwind for a bit?”

“It feels like a moderate waste of company funds,” I said, keeping my voice flat — something robots can be very good at.

He laughed anyway, clapping me on the shoulder — an action that left a faint grease mark on my polished chest plate. “Always the joker! I love that about you.”

Read more science fiction from Nature Futures

“I am not joking.”

“Exactly!” he said, smiling even wider. “That deadpan delivery! You’re killing me.”

... continue reading