A Survey Study on the Technology and Public Acceptance of Remote Labor

Abstract

This paper presents a survey study on the concept of remote labor, which aims at allowing employees in labor jobs to work remotely by teleoperating robots over the internet. As a pilot survey, findings of this study can guide the practical implementations of remote labor. Potential benefits of remote labor include improving working conditions, bringing robustness against disastrous events, providing employment opportunities, and accelerating AI development. Nevertheless, remote labor faces some particular technological and social challenges. 218 responses to a questionnaire have been collected to study the public acceptance of remote labor when considering issues on technology readiness, working environment, safety and liability, contracts and compensations, data collection and use, overseas outsourcing, and more. The paper has also reviewed over 50 published articles on related technologies, business models, and regulatory practices.