Some 39% of Irish adults are worried about robots or artificial intelligence replacing their jobs, according to a survey commissioned by Lego, the Science Foundation Ireland’s Irish Software Research Centre. And concern was higher among younger people, 49% of those between 18 and 34 were concerned about robots and AI taking their jobs.

The survey included 1,038 adults and took place in June 2018.

Of those worried about their jobs being taken over, 11% believe that this will occur within the next five years. 25% expect it to happen within the next six to ten years. One in three anticipate that the robotic arm on the shoulder will occur within the next 11-15 years.

“This is not an unfounded fear,” said Brian Fitzgerald, director of Lero. “People are not stupid and have observed how artificial intelligence and machines have replaced bank staff and supermarket checkout operators.”

On the other hand, a survey by KPMG found that technology will create more jobs than it destroys, Fitzgerald said.

“However, the big challenge for Irish education is to prepare our young people to develop the skills and retrain existing workers for jobs of the future,” he said. “This is particularly challenging as in many cases we don’t know today what these jobs will be.”