The Future of AI Technology and Housework : Why Do Japanese Male Experts Predict Less Household Automation than U.K.-based Experts in a Delphi Survey?

This paper is based on a Delphi survey of 65 Japanese and U.K. experts on the feasibility and product price range of automating 17 types of domestic work. These experts predicted that on average, 39% of time currently spent on domestic work tasks could be saved through automation in 10 years time. We found that Japanese male experts' forecasts were significantly lower than those of U.K. male experts for 12 out of the 17 domestic tasks. This result holds true in regression analysis where we find that industry research and development male experts in Japan predict significantly lower levels of domestic automation after controlling for other explanatory variables. The average predicted price ranges for these technologies were also generally lower in Japan. Automation of domestic chores is an important technology for aging society like Japan. The paper examines the reasons for Japanese male experts’ reluctance. Based on Time Use survey of both countries and interviews, we speculate that the results are related not only to the technological characteristics of the research and development in the field of smart technologies in contemporary Japan but also to the persistent gendered division of labor in Japanese households and perhaps the lack of interest in and experience with domestic work among Japanese male experts. Our paper suggests the importance of increasing the number of female engineers and experts in the field of technology development.