Right about now, it might feel like we’re submerged in uncertainty. But one thing that seems absolutely certain is that the world probably won’t look the same after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

To comply with social distancing and keep workers safe, some retailers are using robots to scrub floors, and recycling facilities are using robots to sort potentially contaminated items. On the front lines, some hospitals are disinfecting patient rooms with robots that zap the virus with ultraviolet light, and treating patients with remote-controlled telehealth robots.