Technology should not aim to replace the humans, rather amplify human capabilities.” – Douglas Engelbart
Since the early to mid-1900s, research and development of artificial intelligence has led to all sorts of technological advancements that can influence every part of our lives. Perhaps one of the most significant impacts that artificial intelligence and robots have made on our lives is in the workplace.
Can Artificial Intelligence Replace Human Jobs?
When technology can be designed to think and learn similar to the way a human does, this technology can be used to perform tasks once only possible by humans. With this technology comes the fear that human employees will be replaced by their technological counterparts.
Most jobs involve some natural language processing, machine learning, and advanced analytics, each of which is natural human functions, and now, functions of artificial intelligence as well.
Today, we see robots and other artificial intelligence performing these tasks as it’s put to use in warehouses or factories, as chatbots answering our questions online, self-driving vehicles, in-home assistants like Alexa, and plenty of forms of information processing meant to streamline customer service experiences.
Which Industries Are Safe from Being Replaced by AI?
No
matter which industry you work in, your job could be affected by the
implementation of artificial intelligence. For some, AI will make their jobs
easier, but for others, the fear is that it will make their jobs obsolete. The
majority of this fear comes from uncertainty about the ever-changing nature of
artificial intelligence.
But,
what do we know for sure about the future of artificial intelligence and how it
will affect the workplace?
It’s difficult to get exact numbers with complete certainty, however, most experts ascertain that indeed, a significant proportion of occupations could be threatened by artificial intelligence. But there is a bright spot!
Experts also believe that while a significant proportion of jobs could be threatened by the existence of artificial intelligence, four areas will rely increasingly on humans – rather than robots – performing them:
- Careers that require strong interpersonal skills, like nursing, teaching, or psychology.
- Math-related careers like economists and analysts.
- Health-related jobs that deal specifically with toxins and bacteria, like allergists and microbiologists.
- Professions dealing with physical structures, including engineers.
On the other hand, the careers expected to become increasingly performed by artificial intelligence are those that can be broken down into a series of repetitive tasks. According to a guide created by the NPR, the most at-risk jobs include bricklayers, telemarketers, restaurant cooks, and cashiers.
Future-Proofing Your Job
As we know, there are no guarantees about the future and how artificial intelligence will impact it. But whether your career is one at high-risk for being taken over by artificial intelligence or not, there’s one thing experts do agree on: the best way to prepare for the future is to be educated. By learning as much as you can about AI, you’re helping prepare yourself for changes as they come, and it can also make you a more valuable member of your team who can teach the rest of your staff how it works.
How are you preparing yourself for the future of artificial intelligence in the workplace? Does it scare you or excite you?
Resources: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/05/21/408234543/will-your-job-be-done-by-a-machine
