7 companies that are replacing human jobs with robots

Marina Nazario

More and more, companies are choosing to use robots to increase productivity while cutting costs. 

Unlike silly humans, robots can trek massive warehouses without tiring, track crucial sales data over time, and even speak multiple languages. 

Bots like these could signal the future of service work. In fact, the International Federation of Robotics estimates over 400 robots will serve as guides in supermarkets, stores, or museums by 2017.

As noted by The Wall Street Journal, businesses are now just starting to put bots in stores (though they're now more advanced, they've been in warehouses for more than a decade). Automation technology has significantly improved in recent years — making the bots faster, smaller, and more affordable than ever before. 

Check out seven of companies automating traditionally human labor — from robot lettuce farmers to robot butlers. The future is now.

Spread's robot lettuce farmers — Harvest 30,000 lettuce heads every day.

The Japanese lettuce production company will open the world's first farm run entirely by robots in Kyoto, Japan.

The indoor robotic farm will harvest 30,000 heads of lettuce every day.

"The use of machines and technology has been improving agriculture in this way throughout human history," J.J. Price, a spokesperson at Spread, told Tech Insider. "With the introduction of plant factories and their controlled environment, we are now able to provide the ideal environment for the crops."

Quiet Logistics robots — Quickly find, package, and ship online orders in warehouses.

Many online retailers use robots working alongside humans in warehouses to retrieve and seal orders. 

As soon as someone orders something, the bots know exactly where to go.

The petite Locus robots, which just launched at Quiet Logistics, an e-commerce fulfillment provider for major online brands including Zara and Bonobos, are expected to increase warehouse productivity by 800%.

"We developed a system where the robots do all the walking," Quiet Logistics CEO Bruce Welty told Tech Insider. "As retailers continue to exceed expectation around next-day shipping, they're going to look to technology to help them provide an even faster turn-around."

Lowes' Oshbots — Help customers find anything in the warehouse and help managers track inventory.

The new 5-foot-tall robot can speak seven languages and knows the location of everything in a Orchard Supply Hardware warehouse, a chain owned by Lowe's. The store is testing the bots in a California location.

When you approach an Oshbot, it uses facial-recognition technology to identify you as a human, The Wall Street Journal reports. "Hi, I’m Oshbot," it greets you in a monotone voice. "I can help you find things in the store. What are you looking for?"

After you select what you want on its touch screen, it wheels away and asks you to follow.