As automation and artificial intelligence (AI) begin to reshape workplaces across South Africa, everyday citizens are grappling with what the future may hold.
From factory floors to fast-food counters and even office desks, Machines and Smart Systems People are constantly taking over tasks once done by others.
To understand how ordinary South Africans feel about this change, IOL Take to the streets, talk to people from all walks of life and listen to their hopes, fears and expectations.
Some welcomed the rise of automation, saying the technology could boost productivity and open doors to new industries, while others worried it could increase unemployment in a country already struggling with unemployment.
For many, the issue struck a deep personal chord: parents wondering what jobs their children will one day have, workers questioning whether their skills will still matter, and young people trying to decide which careers are 'fit for the future'.
Andile Bhengu said IOL He finds checkout machines present in fast food chains and even groceries convenient and easy to use.
he has already hugged technology. “I find it very easy to use because it saves time by not having to go to the cashier and stand in line.”
For them, the machines provide a faster option for shoppers who want to get in and out without waiting in long lines.
He said trying the machines for the first time wasn't scary at all. Curious by nature, he was eager to give them a chance and he soon mastered it.
“The first time I used them it wasn't too difficult because I've always been a person who likes to experience new things, so they weren't difficult at all,” he said.
The 23-year-old said people should not be afraid to try new systems.
But despite enjoying the convenience, Bhengu warned that stores should not rush to replace human workers.
He stressed that removing cashiers could worsen the country's already high unemployment situation and cause some shoppers to struggle.
“Stores should hire cashiers because if they get rid of them, it means more jobs will be taken away from people, it means higher unemployment rates,” he said.
Bhengu also said that many customers still depend on employees for help when machines malfunction or malfunction.
However, for Kuhle Mhlongo, who works for one of the country's largest grocery stores, automation is a threat.
“I can understand why customers welcome it. Sometimes stores get extremely crowded and people have to wait in lines.
“But I'd like to believe that customers can wait a few minutes if it means I can keep my job,” she said.
He claimed delivery services have already reduced queues, with customers opting to have their groceries prepared and delivered to them.
“The facility is great, but there should be a limit. Human workers at the tills are essential, especially for the disabled and the elderly.
“I also don't think people value the human contact that happens when someone goes shopping, there's an epidemic of loneliness. For some of my regular older customers, I and my coworkers are the only people they talk to for days.”
But the 32-year-old revealed she is in school in hopes of a better paying career and said she had the job for a few months but had to stay because there were no other opportunities.
Tony, a retired technician, is a little more optimistic.
“It's easy to operate, it just takes some time to learn,” he said. “I prefer the machines to cashiers because you don't have to stand in line.”
However, the 63-year-old also stressed the need for human workers.
“If you have an issue with something, you need to talk to someone… But it's clear that people are losing jobs because of these machines. It's happening in a variety of industries.”
“Automation is the way out but, unfortunately it will affect people's lives. Therefore, the government needs to come forward and create more jobs.”
technology“It is unstoppable and South Africans need to understand this reality,” he said.
“To compete with the world, we need to move forward with technology. Every industry is affected by it in different forms, it is difficult in the beginning, but I would say now is the time for people to embrace it.”
Therefore, as technology advances, retailers seem determined to move ahead with digital solutions. Loved or loathed, the self-checkout revolution is here to stay, reshaping the way South Africans shop one scan at a time.
*Additional reporting by Cheri Vertuin and Kayla Dirksen.
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