We all live in the Information Age, we are just surrounded by computers and robots in every aspect of our life. Needless to say, computers and robots are taking over more and more roles in today’s world. I am sure that many people nowadays are wondering if one day they will become redundant because the job which they are currently doing will be automated. What is more, we are constantly hearing all the experts predicting mass redundancies because of the process of automation. This of course makes many people to be frightened of losing their jobs in the not-so-distant future. David Autor in his talk is analyzing the impact that new technologies have on the job market and on economy as a whole. He is pointing out emerging trends of shrinking number of middle-skill jobs which are based on quite simple rules and procedures, which are perfect candidates for automation. However, he is far from telling us that we are going to lose our jobs soon because of computers and rather gives examples from the past which showed that despite technical development, number of jobs on the market is constantly increasing.
Questions:
- Do you agree with David Autor’s observations about influence that technology has on job market ?
- Can you give examples of jobs which are currently done by humans and which you think will be automated soon ?
- What should the state do in order to prepare next generations for this fast paced work environment ?
Comments
In my opinion, there will be less doctors in the future, as their job will be done by robots (or just partly).
But this is terrifying and amazing at the same time, because robots now can play games and draw. Some days ago I also found information that robot (A.I) created a video, added music and it all lokeed well as if it was made by a man.
I'm sure that one day all shops cashier will change into machines. Also i think that public transport one day will be totally automatic.
I think that the state shouldn't do anything and be only night watch of invisible hand of the market.
Automatic things are very expensive. And it will be lot of time before it happens.
Some people work in such jobs as cashier/seller, couriers ... cuz other work can't find and if instead of them will be A.I.?In life something failed or has occurred and now they can't find work. Robots with A.I. won't be free, not everyone can buy it.
A. I. is now developing that would capitalize on this than to help.
Ok, let us forget about industry at the moment and let us switch to, for example, building stuff. It is not the secret that we are on the road to overpopulation of Earth. So we need to search for territories to build new cities, and, of course, build them. But how can you find a right proportion between comfort of individual human being and a compact shape of the city? Don't you think that artificial algorithm can do it better than human? Of course, it can. Can it also make a better decision than human, of which shape should every residential building be to save the proportion, I've wrote above? Yes it can. So now even our homes are created by self-controlled robots.
Let us continue with such cities. To make life in them safe and comfortable, you need provide services, like police, firefighters, medical service etc. Can robots do such things better than humans, reducing the amount of killed civillians during crimes chasing, for example, or make diagnosis faster and more precise than humans? Yes, they can. What about places like cinemas, cafes, restaurants? Well, robots have built that city, let us ask them, where it is better to place them. You see? Now robots have some control on our lifes. And they will have more and more. At some point, humanity will delegate all stuff-making and decision-making tasks to the machines, what is left is a life full of pleasures and maybe fun (remember animated movie "Wall-e"?). We will think that we are still in charge of machines, but is that so? So all these worries about robots taking the jobs is only the top of the iceberg. What if robots will take away your life and you won't even notice it?
I believe we will enter a "phase" in which we will start replacing food industry workers, waitresses, barmans, fast food employees with machines - then we will quickly get over it and return to old ways, because human factor cannot be substituted in some jobs. Imagine waitress being a bland emotion less machine.
Culture of work has to raise, simplyfy what can be simplyfied, put mahine where its needed for a stable and reliable workchain.. If i were to get an automatic peeler and cutter for fries with enough training for staff i can make my fries bar much efficient while keeping them in job.
So yeah, mixed feelings. Yes for technology, good for me, but probably it'll kill even more job positions, shifting jobs even more into IT sector.
The author of this talk doesn't give any solutions that could solve the problem but still talks about the subject because they paid him to. I find it unnecessary, redundant and all other synonyms to a "pointless" word.
Yes I think he has some points right - many jobs will be taken away and replaced by robots especially in logistic and transportation.
Can you give examples of jobs which are currently done by humans and which you think will be automated soon ?
All logistic jobs, taxi drivers if automatic cars will be more common.
What should the state do in order to prepare next generations for this fast paced work environment ?
Nothing - we just have to get used to it.