Oxford University scientists estimate that 39% of the time currently spent on household chores could be automated within the next ten years. The research was published in the journal PLOS ONE.
According to previous research, people aged 15 to 64 in the UK spend around 43% of all work and school time on unpaid household chores (for example, cooking, cleaning and caring for children or the elderly). At the same time, men in the UK spend less time on housework than women.
The authors of this study asked 29 male and female AI experts from the UK and 36 experts from Japan to evaluate how 17 home and care tasks could be automated over the next decade.
Experts estimate that an average of 39% of the time people currently spend on any household chores can be automated within the next ten years.
Grocery shopping is estimated to be the most automated task (59% of experts thought). The least automated task was physical childcare (estimated by 21% of experts).
British experts, especially men, were more optimistic.
The authors note that the opinions of experts not only predict the future of business, but also shape it. It is therefore important to consider cultural and gender differences.