What does this mean for workers? Audi's move touches 2 jobs, which together employ about 5.8 million people in the U.S. Across them, AI and robots already touch between 1h 17m (stockers and order fillers) and 4h 31m (laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand) of a typical 8-hour shift. A single company's move is an early signal for these jobs, and the time cards show how far the change has spread nationally.
A pilot is a limited test, often at a few sites, that may or may not expand.
On the floor
- Audi tests Agile Robots mobile humanoids for parts sequencing in Ingolstadt
Audi is running a proof of concept in which Agile Robots' mobile humanoids pick parts from containers and place them in the correct order for final assembly, in the Production Lab at its Ingolstadt plant. A virtual twin is being used to test timing, ergonomics and safety before robots are used in intralogistics.
Audi · Stockers and Order Fillers, Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Jobs affected
- Stockers and Order Fillers1h 17m of 8h touched · 2.8 million workers · $37k · +8.9% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Operate equipment such as forklifts (28m a shift, robots)
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand4h 31m of 8h touched · 3 million workers · $40k · +1.8% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Move freight, stock, or other materials to and from storage or production areas, loading docks, delivery vehicles, ships, or containers, by hand or using trucks, tractors, or other equipment (4h 13m a shift, robots)