Ontario car manufacturer insists new robot workers won't replace people

Toyota Canada announced it is employing androids to perform tasks at an assembly plant in Woodstock, Ont., but insists humans won't be losing out.

As first reported in the Toronto Star, the car manufacturer is partnering with U.S.-based tech company Agility Robotics to essentially hire a bunch of robots they call "Digits" that will assist with manufacturing, supply chain and logistics operations.

Given how General Motors just laid off a significant number of staff at its Oshawa plant less than a month ago, news that robots are now clocking in at Toyota is likely going to raise some eyebrows. 

Toyota Canada insists that these five-foot-nine robots are to "support" workers and "absolutely not" to replace them. 

"Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada employs 8,500 highly skilled Canadians, and has never laid off a full-time employee in its entire history," spokesperson Michael Bouliane tells the Star.

The robots will primarily be used to complete repetitive tasks such as moving parts around and loading and unloading an automated tugger. 

The company says it will continue to assess how robots and AI could further increase automotive production, and we can only hope it doesn't end up as apocalyptic as the movies make it out to be.