EDITORIAL | The Future of Work in the Age of Automation
Bernadette Trinidad
Mar 25, 2024
2 min read
Autobots, transform and roll out! The future of work in the age of automation raises multiple concerns and questions. Automation gradually reshapes the worldview of employment and work. The question is: is it a challenge or an opportunity?
Autobots, transform and roll out! This is not your typical promotional campaign for a new Transformer movie. This line which we have heard several times, somehow foreshadows the future of work in the age of automation.
The issues and arguments about automation have never left the hot seat. We have seen jobs lost due to the rise of automation—jobs in the factories and restaurants being prime examples. Some of us worry about the repercussions it may bring about as technology continues to advance, but most of us know it will not stop.
A decade ago, Oxford University published an article saying that 47% of all jobs could be automated in the near future as the range of tasks AI and computers can perform expands. What is concerning here is that the future they were telling that year is now 'today.' And today, many automated jobs have recently been introduced in the mainstream media. From self-driving cars getting attention in the US, to robot crews serving in a famous Filipino fast food, and AI newscasters.
In the industrial field, the talk regarding automation is no longer new. We have long seen factory robots being utilized for production in manufacturing companies. Meanwhile, in the medical field, they use computers to analyze medical inputs and prescribe treatments. On a side note, it is worrisome to think that we have simply become accustomed to the aforementioned. This raises a question: will other remaining jobs be replaced just like that?
It has now been suggested that people would have to upskill and learn skills that are not vulnerable to automation. Data analysis, specialized sales, strategic thinking, and many other interdisciplinary skills are recommended by the World Economic Forum. Since algorithms and sensors are in the hands of automated machines and computers, they will need humans who can run, control, and manage them. Most probably, the key is to adapt and acquire skills that will be needed in the age of automation.
Imagine robots and machines taking over the world— horrifying and chaotic. They are sensitive to heat and are prone to errors and malfunctions. Soon enough, should they dominate the world, we will see smoke everywhere we go. That is why as a human, we should persist and see the rise of them as a challenge and opportunity.
The future of work in the age of automation poses a problem and a solution. It is vital to be optimistic and think of ways to survive in our ever-changing world. Through learning continuously, keeping abreast of trends, and establishing a responsive mindset, we can conquer anything. Let us believe that the future of work carries immense opportunities where we can embrace change and dare to take risks.
Thanks for sharing these insights. Stories of perseverance always inspire me, much like the journey described in Coach Link Lauer memoir
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haciriw920
Jun 03
I enjoyed reading this post. The examples you shared help put the topic into perspective. Good presentation always makes information more engaging, similar to quality work from book publishers
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Thanks for sharing these insights. Stories of perseverance always inspire me, much like the journey described in Coach Link Lauer memoir
I enjoyed reading this post. The examples you shared help put the topic into perspective. Good presentation always makes information more engaging, similar to quality work from book publishers