Robots as ‘Middle Management’: Linas Beliūnas on Automation’s Current Role

In a recent LinkedIn post, Linas Beliūnas offers a humorous yet insightful take on the current state of automation and artificial intelligence, using a vivid image to illustrate his point. Beliūnas paints a picture of a Roomba robot observing a human mopping a floor within a Roomba store, a scenario he dubs “peak automation.” This observation leads him to a broader commentary on the perceived threat of robots replacing human jobs.

Automation’s Current Role: Beyond Replacement

Beliūnas challenges the common narrative of robots and AI taking over all human tasks. Instead, he proposes a more nuanced view, suggesting that current automation is not about outright replacement but rather about a different kind of integration. As Linas Beliūnas notes:

“Turns out, the robots are not replacing us just yet. They are middle management now.”

This assertion frames automation not as a direct competitor for frontline jobs, but as an intermediary layer, akin to middle management in a corporate structure. This suggests a complex coexistence where technology manages or oversees certain processes, rather than entirely eliminating the need for human involvement. The implication is that humans may still be essential, perhaps in roles that oversee or direct these automated systems, or in areas where human judgment and adaptability remain paramount.

The iRobot Bankruptcy as a Symptom

The post then pivots to a specific real-world event, drawing a connection between the state of automation and the recent news of iRobot filing for bankruptcy. Beliūnas directly links this business development to his earlier point about the limitations or current phase of automation.

“No wonder iRobot filed for bankruptcy.”

While brief, this statement suggests that the company’s struggles may be symptomatic of broader market dynamics or a mismatch between the capabilities of their products and the evolving, or perhaps not-yet-fully-realized, demand for advanced automation. Beliūnas’s observation implies that the market may not be as ready for, or as reliant upon, complete robotic autonomy as once predicted, or that the ‘middle management’ role for robots is not yet a sustainable business model on its own.

Resources for Deeper Exploration

Beyond his commentary on automation, Linas Beliūnas also uses the post to share valuable resources for those interested in the practical applications of AI. He highlights two significant lists:

• The Ultimate List of 340+ Real-World AI Systems used by major companies like Stripe, Nubank, and Brex.
• A compilation of the Top 25 AI Startups of 2025 and their pitch decks.

These additions demonstrate Beliūnas’s engagement with the practical landscape of AI implementation, offering readers avenues to explore how artificial intelligence is currently being deployed across various industries. As Beliūnas points out through these shared links, the practical application and startup innovation in AI continue to be significant areas of development, even as the broader discussion around automation’s impact on employment evolves.