Retailers like Walmart are embracing robots – here's how workers can tell if they'll be replaced Beth Humberd , University of Massachusetts Lowell and Scott F. Latham , University of Massachusetts Lowell Walmart recently said it plans to deploy robots to scan shelves, scrub floors and perform other mundane tasks in its stores as the retail giant seeks to lower labor costs . While the retail giant did not say which jobs, if any, might be lost as a result, the announcement – and the many more