The Omeife robot is the latest invention in Africa and an excellent start to technological advancement.
Humanoid robots are created to move and communicate as humans do. They add value, like other service robots, by automating processes in a way that boosts efficiency and productivity while saving money.
Among professional service robots, humanoid robots are a relatively recent development. They have long been a pipe dream but are just now beginning to find use in a variety of applications where they can be profitable.
In Nigeria, the first African Humanoid robot, Omeife created by Uniccon Group of Companies, provides Language as a service to businesses looking to reach native African audiences.
How Can Omeife Humanoid Robot Improve Nigeria?
From basic farming equipment to modern assembly-line robots in factories, technology has contributed to increasing the productivity of labour for thousands of years. More and more problems in business now include robots.
While it is true that robots are displacing workers, posing a serious threat to low-skilled people, and just somewhat posing a threat to middle-skilled individuals, there are several positive effects that robots have on the Nigerian economy.
Productivity Growth
Higher incomes, cheaper prices for goods and services, and a broader range of goods and services all contribute to higher living standards. These things happen because of increases in labour productivity, which is expressed as output per hour.
Total factory productivity (TFP), also known as multi-factor productivity, increases in capital, improvements in labour quality, and both individually or in combination, to produce growth.
For instance, if the machines they utilize boosted productivity while maintaining the workforce’s education and output, the TFP would still increase. Without a doubt, robots are improving the efficiency of the ‘machine’ part of manufacturing facilities. Even if the workforce in factories stays constant, robotics’ enhanced efficiency ultimately results in higher productivity increases.
Robotics integration automates menial duties and frees up the skilled staff of an organization’s working hours. As a result, firms can maximize the number of hours that each employee works while allowing skilled people to concentrate on more difficult jobs.
It raises an organization’s overall labour productivity while also assisting it in lowering high labour expenses during periods of inflation. The businesses will be able to maintain their margins through price increases thanks to lower overhead costs, preventing them from going out of business as a result of the potential threat of losing money.
Gross Domestic Product Growth
As the lower output is generated with fewer resources, the GDP of the economy as a whole grows as company productivity rises when robots and automation are integrated into more enterprises.
Even if growing poverty and unemployment hurt economic growth, countries that have incorporated robots into their major sectors and workforce will prevail during periods of inflation. Businesses with technology will be able to increase their operations and exports while keeping their prices competitive in global markets, which will benefit the economy. Existing enterprises in Nigeria can even target diverse international markets with lower overhead costs thanks to automation to maintain and grow their total market share.
Security Measures
Humanoid robots are capable of autonomously navigating their surroundings and carrying out preprogrammed activities with little assistance from humans, such as patrolling regularly and removing danger zones.
Using humanoid robots can lessen human exposure to dangers or risks that could be fatal. They can move, detect and report anomalies in the environment. Their sensors and cameras allow them not to lose their balance, even when moving through complex terrain. It can be used to monitor security within the country.
Assisting people with disabilities
Humanoids can help dependents or people with disabilities go about daily activities. Life understands multiple African languages and can identify faces and facial expressions. There is no need to have the technical know-how. It has access to a large number of languages, so it understands.
Logistics and Strategic insight
They can read, understand and break down complex data. The government can use it to get real-time information on any sector in the country. It can also be used to detect coming danger, and give insight into market trends for the future through past and present data.
Special Research
It can be used by Research Institutes or Universities to conduct Special research. Using the Humanoid in this sector must be under strict supervision.
Disadvantages
Even as humanoid robots can improve the economy, There are significant demerits which cannot be overlooked.
Dependency
With the Humanoid taking doing more work there would be a huge rate of dependency and low productivity of workers in a sector. The Workers would leave all the work to the Humanoid to perform, they would not take up tasks and this would gradually reduce their productivity. Using Humanoids for everyday tasks makes users dependent on them.
Cost
Humanoids are expensive, depending on the level of advancement it has. Low and middle-class families can not afford it.
Paranoia
Users can get paranoid from gestures or walking, or constant interaction with the Humanoid. People may feel threatened by the Humanoid.
Malfunctions
As this invention is the first of its kind in Africa, there are chances of cases of malfunctioning. Malfunctions can be very fatal to the user and environment.
Hacking
The codes used to program the system can be hacked or cloned. They can be cloned to produce Warships or Dangerous robots.
Loss of jobs
There will be a reduction of manpower in an economy using robotics. The rate of unemployment increases and this affects the overall development of the country.
