4 Choices You'll Make Running Your Startup in the Age of Robots and AI

There's been a lot of buzz lately about the threat to our way of economic life from robots and artificial intelligence. Many see major problems, and the fears they express tend to draw attention.

Related: Robotics Is Here and Already It's Changing Everything

Tesla founder Elon Musk, for instance, made headlines predicting the end of the worldin what resembled -- more than a little -- the story line from the Terminator franchise. Others have described robots replacing workers in businesses and prompting unemployment rates of 50 percent or more. And still other naysayers have said they suspect robots will take over production, thereby forcing all humans to become marketers.

But there also have been those who argue that the threat is exaggerated and robots and AI could be a real benefit, as they could free us from hard and dangerous work. These forecasters have said this will be a win primarily for low-skilled workers, an advantage good for business.