"Another issue raised with increased robotic intervention is that of the overall loss of human connection such as at the grocery store, the bank, or the library when there's an actual person behind the counter or at the cash register."

You might disagree but I think my work allows me to understand the "mind" and what it is a bit more than most (and still investigating).
The problem with Googles efforts is that it's not likely they will reproduce the "Mind" any time soon...maybe quantum computing at the vibrational energy level but will that quantum mind have any meaningful contact with the either, Will it attain "Identity?" Just like microsofts recent example, will it be able to discern good from bad?
I assert that the ether, in relation to consequences of possibly "Quantum pairs" (entanglements) does not know good from bad and only responds to a quantum event based upon intent and responds with more of the same...it would seem.
So in effect, what google is creating is a humanoid...devoid of conscious and containing only survival recognition, recollection and responses.