Algorithms and Robots - the changing face of work
"70% of Australians are studying for jobs that won't exist in a decade"
Algorithms and Robots - the changing face of work
"They fuck you up, your mum and dad. They may not mean to, but they do," to quote Philip Larkin, the Hermit of Hull. Well, I almost 'fucked up' my youngest daughter's chances of employment. She was in her late teens. She is going through one of her periodic rebellious phases that mark those troublesome years. Locked in her room, head in a computer, I grew resentful as she seemed to neglect her studies.
Frustrated, I angrily cut the cable for her internet connection. Resolute and steadfast, I'd made my point. Meanwhile, unknown to me, in an instant, she'd connected to the wifi in an adjacent apartment, and she continued with her internet work.
Ultimately, this secured her a place at university and in the modern world of work. Again, unbeknownst to me, she'd created several websites. Her internet presence earned her credits. She now does a job that didn't exist ten years ago.
All this came rushing back to me. The headline was "70% of Australians are studying for jobs that won't exist in a decade". It's already happening. The Industrial Revolution was the last significant flip in work. Then, we moved from agrarian-based jobs to city-based factory work with all its spin-offs.
With it, the rustic life that dominated most societies was gone forever. Yet, this is nothing new as we have continually evolved work, except that the pace of that change is much quicker. Plus, we don't appear to be getting ready for it.
The research suggests that up to 50% of the current jobs will be lost to automation within ten years. It's even possible to predict which jobs will be hardest hit. Accounting clerks and bookkeepers will disappear, as will checkout operators, general administration staff, and wood machinists. Most of these positions will be filled by automated processes based on algorithms. Meanwhile, factory work will decline further as more sophisticated robots appear.
Even the medical profession will see increased automation. Screening of symptoms is already underway. The next step will be precise diagnoses, then the assignment of treatment. Don't forget that doctors interpret your symptoms by a process of elimination. Then, determine likely ailments. An algorithm can do this well and much quicker. Plus, it has the advantage of being available 24/7, it doesn't get tired and should be cheaper. Doctors will still be needed, but the role will be even more specialised.
Today's kids need digital skills. Australia reckons that 50% of college-level students need advanced skills, meaning they can configure and build systems. This finding should be a wake-up call for Hong Kong, where the education system is stuck in the past with rote learning. Imagination, innovation and flexibility are the skills future workers need.
Alarm bells should now be ringing across the Hong Kong education system. Why? Because it's a system that discourages innovation. Kids either comply or are considered disruptive troublemakers. In short, Hong Kong's education system is setting us up for failure.
No profession is immune to the influence of algorithms. Most processes, including thinking and judgment, can be automated. The key to survival in this changing landscape is adaptability. We must create a world that keeps humans engaged and doing something useful.
We've successfully navigated significant shifts in the past, from hunter-gatherers to the Industrial Revolution. We can survive this change too, but only if we embrace new thinking and resist the urge to 'cut the internet cable' of progress.
May 2017
Frustrated, I angrily cut the cable for her internet connection. Resolute and steadfast, I'd made my point. Meanwhile, unknown to me, in an instant, she'd connected to the wifi in an adjacent apartment, and she continued with her internet work.
Ultimately, this secured her a place at university and in the modern world of work. Again, unbeknownst to me, she'd created several websites. Her internet presence earned her credits. She now does a job that didn't exist ten years ago.
All this came rushing back to me. The headline was "70% of Australians are studying for jobs that won't exist in a decade". It's already happening. The Industrial Revolution was the last significant flip in work. Then, we moved from agrarian-based jobs to city-based factory work with all its spin-offs.
With it, the rustic life that dominated most societies was gone forever. Yet, this is nothing new as we have continually evolved work, except that the pace of that change is much quicker. Plus, we don't appear to be getting ready for it.
The research suggests that up to 50% of the current jobs will be lost to automation within ten years. It's even possible to predict which jobs will be hardest hit. Accounting clerks and bookkeepers will disappear, as will checkout operators, general administration staff, and wood machinists. Most of these positions will be filled by automated processes based on algorithms. Meanwhile, factory work will decline further as more sophisticated robots appear.
Even the medical profession will see increased automation. Screening of symptoms is already underway. The next step will be precise diagnoses, then the assignment of treatment. Don't forget that doctors interpret your symptoms by a process of elimination. Then, determine likely ailments. An algorithm can do this well and much quicker. Plus, it has the advantage of being available 24/7, it doesn't get tired and should be cheaper. Doctors will still be needed, but the role will be even more specialised.
Today's kids need digital skills. Australia reckons that 50% of college-level students need advanced skills, meaning they can configure and build systems. This finding should be a wake-up call for Hong Kong, where the education system is stuck in the past with rote learning. Imagination, innovation and flexibility are the skills future workers need.
Alarm bells should now be ringing across the Hong Kong education system. Why? Because it's a system that discourages innovation. Kids either comply or are considered disruptive troublemakers. In short, Hong Kong's education system is setting us up for failure.
No profession is immune to the influence of algorithms. Most processes, including thinking and judgment, can be automated. The key to survival in this changing landscape is adaptability. We must create a world that keeps humans engaged and doing something useful.
We've successfully navigated significant shifts in the past, from hunter-gatherers to the Industrial Revolution. We can survive this change too, but only if we embrace new thinking and resist the urge to 'cut the internet cable' of progress.
May 2017
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