MGM automation announcement sending shock waves through the Vegas Strip. How can a hotel that just signed a new labor agreement already be looking to automate? Give MGM great credit in seeing ahead? It will take them years to implement. This is the time start. MGM's plan to save $300M by cutting 2100 workers is worth the effort.
The segment that is upset, Las Vegas Culinary Union (LVCU), which represents bar staff, kitchen and wait staff vision is limited. The thought that there will be robot arms doing the work of a bar tender, those systems are available. However the robots that are unseen in the back-office software robots no one is talking about. These are your white collar entry jobs that robots and software further eliminate.
The oft sited McKinsey study from 2017 gives a snapshot of the potential impact of robots. But once again I think the focus is limited to physical robots. Physical robots can take years to set up and implement (particularly from scratch). Thus MGM's preparation. However the physical robots can replace entire departments in matter of weeks.
For those fearing and loathing the coming automation, be the Subject Matter Export (SME) that the robot geeks rely on to understand how to build your replacement. Be that person that stands out and helps make the robots reality. When I find those people, I make sure we keep them in new roles.
Princess Leia when speaking to Tarkin:
The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.
To the workers worried about this, open your hand and do everything possible to help, you will have opportunities be made available.