In 2025, robotics will have established itself as one of the driving forces in our society: intelligent machines are not only finding their place in industry, but also increasingly in everyday life. This development creates both opportunities and profound challenges that affect the labor market, the structure of society and the legal system. A recent article in the Handelsblatt serves as a starting point for me to write a few fresh lines on an underrated topic with considerable legal and socio-political explosiveness. Note: The article first appeared in German on my blog on robotics law!
Technological advances and market potential
Humanoid robots and automation systems are increasingly dominating more and more areas of life. In recent years, Europe has taken a leading role in this sector through targeted investments and regulatory adjustments. The global robotics market is growing by more than 20% annually and is estimated to exceed $180 billion by 2030. In addition to industrial applications, robots are increasingly being used in care, retail and even creative fields.
These machines can independently expand their capabilities through machine learning. This opens up new areas of application, such as in medicine, where AI systems now make better diagnoses than experienced specialists. In retail, robots are taking on tasks such as shelf stocking and customer service.
AI (artificial intelligence) and robotics are closely related, but by no means the same. Robotics refers to physical machines – robots – that operate in the real world, whether in industry, households or healthcare. They consist of mechanical components, sensors and control systems. AI, on the other hand, is a software technology that aims to simulate human-like intelligence. It enables machines to make decisions, recognize patterns, or learn tasks. AI is used in robots to expand their capabilities, such as for navigating autonomously or interacting with humans. However, a robot can also function without AI, such as an industrial welding robot that performs pre-programmed sequences.
The difference, then, is that AI provides the “thinking ability” while robotics enables the “physical presence”. Not every robot uses AI, and not all AI is used in robots – many AI applications exist purely in the digital world, such as voice assistants or data analysis.
Impact on the labor market
The proliferation of robots is permanently changing the labor market. While robots often displace jobs in manufacturing, they can create new employment opportunities in other areas. Studies show that countries like Germany are benefiting from this transformation by combining automation with investment in new technologies. However, there are risks, especially for low-skilled workers: automation often replaces manual tasks without creating comparable positions.
Another problem is the so-called “polarization of the labor market”. Highly skilled occupations that require creative or strategic abilities benefit from robots, while medium-skilled workers are increasingly coming under pressure. Such shifts require an adaptation of education systems and targeted retraining programs to avoid social inequalities in the long term.
Legal challenges: liability and data protection
The use of autonomous systems raises complex legal issues. One key issue is liability. Who is responsible when a robot causes damage? The current regulations on product liability and strict liability are reaching their limits because many robots make decisions that are neither fully predictable nor deterministic. The combination of AI and robotics will open up a wide range of issues here in Europe: On the one hand, product liability will be affected; on the other hand, the AI Liability Directive will create an (expensive) field of activity for lawyers here. Supplemented by the permissibility of certain functions of robots with AI, which is assessed according to the AI Regulation (the “AI Act”).
The new European Machinery Regulation, which will apply from 2027, attempts to address these challenges by introducing stricter safety and health requirements for machinery. Nevertheless, the question remains as to whether the introduction of a legal “e-person” is necessary for autonomous systems in order to better attribute their actions legally.
Another area of legal tension concerns data protection. Robots often collect and process large amounts of personal data, whether through cameras, sensors or interactions. Particularly in the care sector, where “geriatronics” robots support older people, strict data protection regulations must be adhered to in order to guarantee the informational self-determination of those affected.
Finally, we come to the least interesting, but most difficult part of selling robots: robots need batteries or accumulators to work. This is where complex legal mechanisms come into play, especially in Germany: advertising must address this, as must precautions for disposal and registration as a dealer (with the “Stiftung EAR”). Those who fail to comply risk heavy fines from the German Federal Environment Agency. These fines are intended to cover the profit made from violating the rules for handling batteries… so it’s going to be expensive.
Philosophical and ethical considerations
In addition to legal aspects, the use of robots also raises ethical questions. Should machines that make decisions take moral values into account? How much autonomy do we want to grant intelligent systems? These questions are reminiscent of Asimov’s robot laws, which define the safety and protection of humans as the primary goal. In reality, this remains a challenge, especially since many decisions are based on algorithms that are partially beyond human control. However, the integration of robots into our everyday lives is more than just a technical revolution; it is a profound ethical challenge. While robots have the potential to make our lives easier and solve social problems such as labor shortages, they also pose significant ethical risks. The need for clear guidelines based on a broad social debate is therefore more urgent than ever. Only with a solid ethical foundation can robots gain trust in the long term and be successfully integrated into our lives.
Ethical issues in robotics
Robots raise difficult ethical questions in many fields of application. Some of the key issues include:
- Loss of autonomy and dependence: The more robots take over tasks, the more human autonomy could be restricted. Particularly in the case of assistant robots that support older people, there is a risk that personal freedom of choice will be undermined by automated systems.
- Data protection and surveillance: The sensor technology of robots enables extensive data collection that includes personal information about users. If this data is misused or inadequately protected, the informational self-determination of those affected is at risk.
- Discrimination through algorithms: Artificial intelligence (AI) used in robots can exacerbate existing social inequalities if it is based on biased data. For example, social or cultural prejudices could be inadvertently integrated into the decisions of robots.
- Responsibility and liability: Autonomous robots make decisions that can potentially cause harm. Who is responsible for defective actions? This question is not only legally, but also ethically, of central importance.
- Human-machine interaction: robots that are designed to resemble humans can give rise to psychological dependencies or false expectations. This carries the risk that users will neglect their interpersonal relationships or place more trust in machines than they deserve.
Why ethical guidelines are crucial
Ethical guidelines are not only necessary to solve problems, but also to ensure that robots are accepted by society in the long term. Trust is a key concept in this context: only if robots are perceived as ethically responsible and safe can they gain users and play a positive role in society.
- Building trust through transparency and security: When robots make decisions, the criteria on which these decisions are based must be clear. Transparent communication and adherence to ethical principles create trust, especially in sensitive areas such as care and education.
- Preventing social tensions: Without ethical guidelines, robots could intensify social inequalities or jeopardize acceptance of technological innovations. A common set of rules prevents individual companies from achieving short-term gains through unethical behavior, thereby causing long-term damage to society.
- Promoting a positive human-machine relationship: Robots can only play a sustainable role in everyday life if they are perceived as a support, not as a threat. This requires that they be designed and programmed in a way that respects and supports humans, without incapacitating or manipulating them.
The role of society in developing ethical standards
The responsibility for ethical guidelines should not be left to individual companies. Although companies like OpenAI or Boston Dynamics are making important advances, their goals are often profit-oriented. This carries the risk that fundamental values such as justice, data protection or inclusion are subordinated to economic success.
- Sociopolitical debate: Ethical guidelines should be developed in a broad sociopolitical discussion that includes experts, citizens, ethicists and politicians. This discussion must center around universal values such as human dignity, justice and freedom.
- Legal anchoring: To ensure that ethical standards are binding, they must be integrated into legal frameworks. The new European Machine Regulation and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) offer initial approaches, but further international agreements and national laws specifically tailored to robotics are needed.
- Proactively shaping the future: Now is the right time to develop ethical standards. Robots that will soon be used in everyday life will have a lasting impact on our lives and values. Without forward-looking regulation, we run the risk that technology companies will determine the framework conditions before society can formulate its interests.
Robotics has the potential to profoundly transform society. Whether this transformation leads to greater prosperity and social justice or to a worsening of existing inequalities depends on how we shape the challenges of the present. The idea of leaving issues that shape society and humanity as a whole to the mercy of free competition alone should give us pause for thought.

Robotics has the potential to profoundly transform society. Whether this transformation leads to greater prosperity and social justice or to a worsening of existing inequalities depends on how we shape the challenges of the present. The idea of leaving issues that shape society and humanity as a whole to the mercy of free competition alone should cause some concern.
A look into the future
The next few years – starting now! – will be crucial for finding the right balance between innovation, social impact and legal requirements. Europe has the chance to play a global pioneering role by combining technological progress with a clear ethical and legal framework. For the labor market, this means that politicians and business must respond proactively to the challenges, whether it be through retraining measures, the promotion of new professions or stronger regulation. From a legal point of view, models such as the “E-Person” or specific liability regulations for AI systems could provide the necessary clarity.
Ethical guidelines are not a theoretical exercise, but a practical necessity for the success of robotics. The fact that abstract philosophical and ethical ideas have to be developed here will, in the foreseeable future, overwhelm society! But they ensure that robots are not only efficient, but also humane and trustworthy. At the same time, they protect society from abuse and unforeseen risks. The future of robotics ultimately depends on whether we can successfully shape its development responsibly. This requires courage, openness and a willingness to ask fundamental questions about the human-machine relationship – now, before robots become commonplace.
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