Faster queues but fewer jobs? South Africans debate rise of self-checkout machines. As automation and artificial intelligence (AI) begin reshaping workplaces across South Africa, everyday citizens are grappling with what the future might hold.
From factory floors to fast-food counters and even office desks,machines and smart systemsare steadily taking on tasks once done by people. To understand how ordinary South Africans feel about the shift,IOLtook to the streets, speaking to people from all walks of life to hear their hopes, fears and expectations. Some welcomed the rise of automation, saying technology could boost productivity and open doors to new industries, while others worried it might deepen unemployment in a country already battling joblessness.
For many, the issue struck a deeply personal chord: parents wondering what jobs their children will have one day, workers questioning whether their skills will still matter, and young people trying to decide what careers are ‘future-proof’. Andile Bhengu toldIOLthat he finds the checkout machines that are in fast food chains and even groceries, convenient and easy to use. He has already embraced thetechnology.
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“I find it very easy to use because it saves time by not going to the cashiers and being in the queue.” For him, the machines offer a fast alternative for shoppers who want to get in and out without waiting in long lines. He said trying the machines for the first time was not intimidating at all. Curious by nature, he was eager to give them a go and quickly got the hang of it.
“The first time I used them it wasn’t very difficult because I’m always a person who likes to experience new things, so they weren’t difficult at all,” he said. The 23-year-old added that people should not be afraid to try the new systems.
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