Which statement best captures the potential negative impact of robots on employment?

• A. They may replace jobs due to their ability to perform many tasks without breaks or fatigue
• B. They will always create new jobs
• C. They never make mistakes
• D. They require no maintenance

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that automation can change how demand for work is distributed, potentially reducing opportunities for humans. Robots can perform many tasks without breaks or fatigue, which makes them attractive for maintaining steady output and cutting labor costs. When machines can handle a wide range of tasks around the clock, employers may replace human workers in those roles, leading to job displacement unless there are programs for retraining and creating new roles in designing, programming, maintaining, or supervising automated systems. This is why this statement best captures the potential negative impact on employment.

The other ideas don’t fit as well. Saying automation will always create new jobs assumes a guaranteed, seamless transition that doesn’t account for displacement. Saying robots never make mistakes is incorrect in practice, since automation can fail or require human oversight. Saying they require no maintenance is also false and doesn’t address employment effects.