Recognizing the human voice, new tech gadgets can play music, search the web, shop online, check the weather, and even switch on the lights or control the central heating. But while we get to know these new interactive electronics, a report last week sounded the alarm over the implications of rapidly improving artificial intelligence.

They listen, they talk and very soon, according to some experts, they will be taking over our homes, our jobs and our lives. Thousands of Americans unwrapped voice-activated electronic devices on Christmas Day. Amazon's Alexa service, Apple's Home Pod, and Google's Home speakers were among the best-sellers.

The study, from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warns of thousands of jobs being lost to robots and those with those on lowest wages likely to be hardest hit. As it becomes more expensive to hire people for work because of government intervention like minimum wage hikes and overbearing regulations, more companies are shifting to robotics to save money on labor.