I like metaphors. Aside from metaphors and metaphors, irony is my favorite.
According to Wikipedia, automation is “a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes by predetermining decision-making criteria, subprocess relationships, and associated actions and embodying those predeterminations in machines. ” is explained.
More simply, automation is the use of technology, usually artificial intelligence (AI), to perform tasks with minimal human input. The most common applications of AI are machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), and robotics. Automation has made the job simpler, but ironically, it has also made it more sophisticated.
evolution of work
Perhaps the concept of work originated with a biblical story. Genesis 3:23 says, “Therefore, the Lord God expelled him (Adam, Eve) from the Garden of Eden, to cultivate the land from which he had been taken.”
Since then, most jobs have been manual labor. In the 4th millennium BC, a wheel with a solid disk of wood was invented by the Sumerians in Lower Mesopotamia (now Iraq). Ironically, it took another 2,000 years to reinvent the wheel with the hollow disc. This innovation led to other work-related inventions.
Another 2,000 years later, we are in the midst of great inventions and innovations that continue to change the world of work. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, several experts and pundits warned that AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) would soon destroy the world, people and their lives.
Experts warn that automation could lead to the loss of 800 million jobs globally and the disruption of 475 million employees by 2030. Some experts predict that 30 percent of all jobs will be automated by 2030. Fortunately, there will still be some jobs that only humans can do. At least for now, you have to do things like building and programming robots.
Irony #1: Humans have used technology to make their jobs easier, but now machines can do it better than most humans.
IoT can make a lot of work redundant. This disruptive technology will likely enable all devices to be connected and share information at high speeds, with little need for human intervention. This sounds like the evil plot of the fictional Skynet in the Terminator series of movies.
Currently, humans work side by side with robots and intelligent machines. In some industries, robots are already “supervising” humans. The human “think and feel” work will remain, but the simpler or repetitive processes will be done by his AI.
Irony #2: In the beginning all work was man’s work, and animals (beasts of burden) coexisted with man. After that, mankind invented machines that coexist with machines. In some places, machines supervise humans.
change in the nature of work
Automation has changed the nature of work. Brick-and-mortar store owners turned online entrepreneurs. Marketing managers are now “masters of digital marketing”. Sales reps no longer go door-to-door, but use an AI-enabled platform to close deals. Bookkeeping is now for machines. Accountants are becoming financial managers.
Management is also becoming more automated. Upper management now uses digital monitoring tools to see if people are productive. Distance no longer matters, as leaders can communicate with their followers in real time, no matter where they are in this technology-made flatter world.
If technological innovations like AI (ChatGPT, etc.) are not effectively utilized, it will be a great injustice to humanity. Technology can help create innovative products and services that can serve low-end consumers. As the nature of work continues to evolve, new jobs are being created.
Irony #3: Technology will make many jobs disappear, but it will also create new ones.
Aside from the higher level of skill required as more work is automated, much of the human element required to create more customer value remains.
Unfortunately, those who do not reskill themselves are not even eligible for their current job after three years. 40 percent of the new skills will be required by then. Technical skills and experience alone are no longer enough to find a decent job. Human resources (HR) staff do more than just match a person’s skills to job specifications; they look at the person closely. Low-value work can be done by machines, but the workplace will continue to require people with critical thinking, creativity, camaraderie, compassion and problem-solving skills. Calculations, sorting, filing, and other simple repetitive tasks are best done by machines, but there are still jobs that humans do.
Irony #4: Humans use technology to make machines smarter than most humans.
In the old days, most of the jobs were manual labor, mean and despicable to humans. Then tools were invented, work became easier, and mankind enjoyed the change. And humans realized that machines can now flip burgers perfectly, better than humans ever did. Perhaps the time will come when human work will become work that machines cannot do. However, the list gets shorter each time the technology changes to a new app. Ironically, we now live on the planet of apps.
Irony #5: Technology forces us to improve our “humanness” so that we do not outlive our usefulness.
With automation advancing at a dizzying pace, companies must continue to give their employees the freedom to choose their careers. Forget traditional career ladders and succession planning. Even if you think you’re next, you never know if automation will suddenly outsource or make unnecessary the work you’ve been preparing yourself for years. Always be on top of your game and never stop learning.
Irony #6: People are only good by their final performance.
There will always be a job, and the availability of that job depends on many factors, including chance. Factors other than skill include possibilities, preparation, and situations that gods and fairy godmothers never created for themselves.
Deloitte’s 2021 Global Human Capital Trends report states that “labor force potential depends on what workers are hired to do, what they are certified to do, and what organizations and leaders choose to do. It’s not about what we want them to do, it’s about giving workers more freedom.” As organizations and ecosystems evolve, we must choose the best way to address critical business problems. ” It takes human skill.
Irony #7: Let robots do simple, repetitive tasks. Humans have to be good at what robots can’t.
“In a world where AI and automation are becoming more commonplace, deep expertise helps us stay ahead of robots,” says Jon Dixon, co-founder of jmj Cloud.
Arnie Cecilia is Chair of the Human Capital and Publishing Committees of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham). She is the President of the TWG on Labor Policy and Social Affairs of the Philippine Employers’ Coalition (ECOP). Former President of the Philippine People’s Management Association (PMAP). His contact is her erniececilia@gmail.com.
