Will AI & Automation steal our jobs?
Every year it feels like more and more Hollywood blockbuster science fiction films are released with the same repetitive storyline: artificial intelligence (AI) robots replace humans in the workforce and then somehow manage to take over the world.
While this may just be an overplayed Hollywood storyline, the truth of the matter is that AI automation is increasingly becoming a reality in the workforce today. You may be wondering, is AI and automated technology going to replace my job in the future?
I, like many of us, have pondered this reality, imagining waking up one day 20 years from now to find that an AI or automated technology system called Karen has taken over my job and everyone else’s.
The reality is, AI and automated technology isn’t sophisticated enough yet to wipe out the whole human workforce like a Hollywood blockbuster film. However, the new technology’s rapid evolution will continue to disrupt the labour workforce and the way we currently work.
While many workplaces like Coles and Woolworths have welcomed these disruptions and the associated benefits, many employees have become increasingly fearful of the risks associated with an AI and automated workforce.
I can tell you that my parents, like many others, have warned me more than once about the risks of new technology replacing jobs in the workforce.
To settle this time old debate, we need to investigate the benefits and risks of AI and automated new technologies disruptions to our future workforce.
Automated technology is not necessarily a new innovation, with self-service checkout lanes in supermarket chains and online chat bots.
However, the recent rapid advance of AI and automation has reignited controversy about these new technologies effect on employment and the workplace. According to Accenture Strategy Lead research, 80% of Australian workers know that their work is going to be at risk from automation and technology.
Technology over time has often disrupted and even destroyed industries and sectors. Take, for example, the print media industry, which was once a monopoly pulling the strings of its passive spectators. Then came the rise of the internet and convergence of content across platforms and participatory culture between end users and media producers, allowing users to become the journalists and bloggers.
As automated machines and AI are increasingly taking on intellectual work tasks usually reserved for humans, rather than repetitive tasks, there are concerns that disruptions to workforce sectors would be widespread.
A recent PWC report predicted a lower displacement of jobs in the first wave of automation, but this could dramatically increase up to 30% by mid-2030’s.
However, according to MIT Media Lab chairman Nicholas Negroponte, “Like a force of nature, the digital age cannot be denied or stopped.”
So, while we may not be able to stop the digital age disruptions, we may as well look into the benefits of AI and automation for the future workforce.
As AI and automation technology continues to evolve and disrupt industries and current jobs, it will create new kinds of job opportunities. Just like when the computer was first introduced and new jobs were created such as influencers and digital marketing, automation will also create new opportunities.
Furthermore, as AI can automate repetitive work and anticipate needs and instantly gather information, it will make employees more efficient and productive. According to Ernest & Young research findings, “organizations enabling AI at the enterprise level are increasing operational efficiency, making faster, more informed decisions and innovating new products and services.”
Despite the many benefits of AI and automation technology disruptions to the workforce, there are still many concerns about the risks associated with the software disrupting entire communities and affecting low-income workers.
As AI and automation is only as smart as the data its fed, there are many privacy concerns with the enormous quantities of ‘big data’ being used by companies for AI machine learning algorithms.
Personally, the thought of a machine learning from my data and interactions to become more human gives me chills.
Human rights and privacy groups have also voiced concerns that automated systems have an unprecedented impact on Australians’ privacy and could enable legal mass surveillance.
However, Victoria’s privacy watchdog has advised a safe balance between privacy and AI technological progress can be achieved by, “Leveraging existing information privacy frameworks, as well as re-imagining traditional concepts will be a key component in building, using and regulating AI.”
So, whether you want to embrace it or hate it, the fact of the matter is AI and automation technology is the future of our workforce. Whilst, it will be not be stealing every job like a Hollywood blockbuster film, AI and Automation will completely transform the workforce we know today.
