Artificial Intelligence – AI – is currently hailed as one of the most revolutionizing technologies ever developed. It holds great promise for fostering business development, automating manufacturing processes, and delivering valuable insights among many more advantages. This will inevitably lead to people losing jobs and even create “extinct” professions. But how serious might this actually be?
AI image-generating technologies such as Dall-E 2, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion, along with ChatGPT that are able to provide data and participate in discussions are among those most talked about but AI can be used for much much more.
There is a significant and inevitable change underway and this hypothesis is backed by numerous studies, including those carried out by the McKinsey Global Institute and Oxford University. This change concerns many people who believe that AI might take over their jobs.
What jobs could be automated?
AI is becoming increasingly used in a wide range of industries including logistics, manufacturing, and cybersecurity which means that the likelihood of certain jobs transferring from human operations to artificial intelligence are rather high.
Here are some of the jobs that may become obsolete due to the AI evolution:
1. Factory worker
Many factories have been using robotics in their assembly lines for the past 60 years with this continuing to evolve and now some assembly lines are already 100% automated. Moreover, while robotics are used to perform a set of repetitive tasks such as adjusting bolts or moving massive objects, AI is also used to make decisions in certain situations. It can identify problems and act to resolve these, for instance when a tool breaks down or there is an unexpected problem.
2. Couriers and taxi drivers
One area of the economy that has expanded in tandem with the steady rise in online shopping is package delivery and there is therefore no doubt that companies are investing in its automation.
AI can quickly calculate the best routes from a facility to delivery locations and human drivers also use tools such as Google Maps to deliver goods. Companies are now looking for ways to operate even without the involvement of human drivers.
3. Customer service industry workers
Many websites have a helpful pop-up that asks whether the user needs any assistance. While these bots can promptly resolve simple issues, in order to solve more complex problems, the user still needs to contact a human.
However, in the near future, AI will enable an increasing number of these discussions to take place without the involvement of any human beings. Today, chatbots are set up to recognize particular phrases and offer a limited number of solutions based on keywords in the user’s question but eventually AI will be able to understand what the user wants and respond to virtually any question in a way that is similar to a human response. People working in the customer service industry will therefore no longer be needed.
The conversation between two AIs
Using ChatGPT (which understands English perfectly), one user has managed to simulate the dialogue between two AI entities. This shows that in the future AIs could replace humans, for instance in the service industry.
4. Store cashier
The popularity of computerized self-checkout alternatives has made it evident that cash register assistants are in danger. For instance, Amazon Fresh for grocery delivery is the most recent example of how the ever-expanding reach of internet-based commerce threatens the need for a profession that once provided employment for tens of thousands of people.
5. Word processor
Also known as typists, these are data input specialists who use word processing software to create texts. Their work entails typing up written content that they did not create themselves.
Today, along with the tech giants like Google with its Google Cloud Speech-to-Text, small businesses have also shown rapid progress in creating voice recognition software for mobile devices. These programs are constantly evolving and are already demonstrating that you can say virtually anything and the app will not miss a single letter when writing the words spoken.
What is voice recognition software?
This is an application that uses speech recognition algorithms to detect spoken words (it can be in various languages) and turn the sound into text.
Jobs that won’t be replaced by AI (at least for now)
Despite the fact that the world is actively adopting automation and digitization, human capacity to comprehend a situation and its nuances before providing an answer continues to be vital.
The type of jobs that AI will simply not be able to replace in the nearest future are those that involve creativity, empathy, and complicated political and strategic roles. These include:
- Teachers
- Writers
- Lawyers
- Social workers
- Medical professionals
- Therapists
- Management professionals
Social work, education, and the training of experts in AI are a few fields that will still depend on human labor. Although these jobs might still benefit from the development of AI, so far the technology cannot mimic the empathy and social skills that these professions demand.
Experts believe that there are several weaknesses that will prevent AI from replacing specific jobs. These include the inability to:
- Implement intricate strategic planning
- Utilize excellent hand-eye coordination
- Apply empathy
To assist in adjusting to a new reality with greater AI involvement, people will need other people. We need people to make the adoption of technology possible thus decreasing workloads and not vice versa.
How can AI increase the number of jobs?
According to PwC’s Global Artificial Intelligence Study, over the next decade, AI will improve global GDP by US$15.7 trillion, or 26%.
Despite the fact that certain professions will be automated by AI, the study indicated that in the long term, this process will create at least the same number of jobs that it is calculated will be lost. This will be possible mainly thanks to technological evolution that will benefit the economy. In addition, experts believe that large-scale unemployment is unlikely.
According to the “Future of Jobs Report 2020” in five years, 85 million jobs are expected to be lost across 26 countries, with automation creating 97 million new ones at the same time.
To supply ever-improving technologies, a tremendous increase in personnel is required. When it comes to AI, there is a constant requirement for training, data, and dealing with all the errors that arise.
Final word
AI will undoubtedly make certain jobs obsolete but this isn’t the end of the world. While it will be able to perform many mundane tasks, it will not be able to truly comprehend human emotions and react as effectively as a human would. A team leader, for instance, needs empathy to guide workers through difficult periods and a hiring manager searching for the ideal applicant needs human insight.
Moreover, AI will lead to the creation of new jobs since more people will be required to carry out the tasks linked with it. In short, new jobs will have to be created to answer the questions: How can we keep an eye on AI? How do we instruct it? How can we ensure that AI is not misbehaving?
