The New Work: The Future of Automation
Pixaby
The Jetsons were a childhood favorite among my peers, depicting fanciful automobiles, tech gadgets and virtual assistant scenarios. That era was almost like a work of imagination. Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) have taken over industries, resulting in a more realistic future.
Now we start to wonder whether technology creates jobs or simply kills them. The prediction made by TechGig.com indicates that automation will eliminate close to 640,000 low-skilled IT jobs in India by 2021, according to data. The change is happening in all countries Why?
I saw this happen to my uncle, who was working as a data entry operator for years and was dismissed when the company introduced AI-based software. Even with learning new skills, adapting to modern technology at his age in the late 50s was not easy. Today, many workers around the world face his problem. Experts are asking the same questions all over the world. The International Labor Organisation's representative, Tomoko Nishimoto, expressed in 2019 her concern over robots stealing jobs.
Will my boss be an algorithm someday? Our view of work is already changing Why? People are shifting toward gig work, freelancing, and remote work. This gives people more flexibility but raises stability and worker security concerns. Many gig workers are left with nothing in terms of getting coverage and retirement savings.
According to a director at data analytics firm at Elom's, Finn Koh: "The workers are not invisible. Because of digital footprints, these contributions can now be tracked in ways that give better policies about supporting them.
As experts at the ILO say, technological development can indeed meet the problems that arise in traditional work caused by disruption. The platform-based business allows fair remuneration, social security options, and enhancement of the work environment.
Despite the restrictions, technology opens up new avenues. That is how economist Maribel Ortiz of the ILO describes it. "Take cell phones for instance.
They have transformed the way people communicate, educate themselves, and conduct business. Pakistan's over 151 million mobile users can tap into this connectivity to enhance digital job opportunities. I have experienced this change, instead of physical work people chose an online job, like my best friend had trouble finding a secure job after graduation. She opted to become a freelancer rather than wait for an opportunity. With a laptop and internet connection, she grew accustomed to her profession being a graphic designer.
Her earnings are higher than what she would have received in a conventional 9-to-5 working arrangement. According to her, technology was not an obstruction, but an enabler of her profession.
Worker protection efforts in the gig economy and automation-related industries should have a place with policies that push innovation. A few experts recommended that the government should make regulations to bring in freelancers within the documented economy and get the right pay and benefits.
There is no human vs. machine choice in work futures. Instead, it should be about creating a balance that makes automation and AI complement what humans are capable of doing.
So, how can this be put in place? Through adaptability — the key to all success, from beginners to experts. Continuously adapt and learn technology.
My perception of the universe as shown in TV show, The Jetsons, has been made clear to me. How? As we advance in time, the real challenge is having it work for all of us.
Read the full article here: https://medium.com/word-garden/the-new-work-the-future-of-automation-83e11e5da725