The robotic revolution and 5G-powered business models China and Indonesia hold the strongest beliefs that people are poised to dramatically alter the competitive landscape in their country will fully embrace robots in public spaces, for businesses in all industries—whether those businesses whereas executives from Ireland, Canada and France, know it or not. While 95 percent of executives believe have some concerns that people will not accept robots. their organization will be using robots in uncontrolled environments in five years or more, the trend is already More enterprises are understanding that the key to under way in retail where 76 percent of executives report overcoming doubt and successfully pursuing opportunity they are already using robotics or anticipate using them means addressing new questions and responsibilities. in three years or less. Fifty-nine percent of executives believe that social robots % in public spaces will raise major ethical, legal and societal 4545 However, the Accenture Technology Vision 2020 survey concerns, including security threats and privacy risks. results show that as robots move beyond the factory and More than immediate risk, businesses must also consider of executives warehouse, a range of opinions is forming around how the impact robots may have on the “digital divide”—the believe employees people and the workplace will be impacted. Consumers disparity between those who have access to technology appear to be enthusiastic about the potential of robots and those who do not. While 61 percent of executives will be challenged taking a bigger role in their lives: 48 percent of consumers believe robots can reduce the gap on inequality and the to figure out how believe robots are poised to make their lives easier, and digital divide, 28 percent believe inequalities will widen, 30 percent think robots will make their lives more fun. Some or significantly widen, as more robots emerge in society. to work with robots. businesses, on the other hand, hold a more conservative outlook and retain concerns about the acceptance of As executives craft strategies to guide the enterprise into robots in the workplace: 45 percent of business executives a robotics-driven future, they must account for the growing believe employees will be challenged to figure out how to impact their presence will have on customers and society work with robots. Interestingly, geography seems to be at at large. Ensuring safe and equitable integration with the least one factor guiding sentiment—perhaps due to social world will be one of the pillars of success. and cultural norms. Business executives in Kazakhstan,