Can robots impact our health? One study says so

A growing number of Americans are seeing their job security erode in the face of automation and it's undermining their health, according to a new study. The report, conducted by three Ball State University researchers with the school's Center for Business and Economic Research, shows that a 10 percentage point increase in automation risk increases average per-county costs related to medical expenses and lost productivity. "People who live and work in areas where automation is taking place are sickened by the thought of losing their jobs and having no way of providing for themselves or their families," said Michael Hicks, the center's director, who helped conduct the research. Costs associated with an increase in poor or fair health rise by $24 million to $174 million, costs related to increased physical distress rise by $6 million to $40 million and costs linked to mental distress increase by $7 million to $47 million. "This should give us pause about thinking through the benefits and costs of these technologies," Hicks said.