Rapid increase in developments in artificial intelligence have lead some of the world’s brightest thinkers of today to warn of the ethical and economic ramifications of Bots taking over. AI is a serious issue being discussed by academic philosophers and business moguls alike, posing conflicting views on both sides of the spectrum. With the current rate of progression, the outlook seems alarming. But is this more an example of scaremongering, than technology posing any real threat?
‘An Existential Crisis for Humankind’
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently declared his fear that AI is likely to destroy humankind, and that ‘a handful of major companies will end up in control of AI systems with “extreme” levels of power‘, claiming that ‘AI is an existential risk for human civilisation and creators must slow down‘. Musk believes that the general concept of AI is so ethereal, that until ‘people see robots killing people in the streets’ will they not know how to react.
Calling for a slowing of progression in the hopes that companies will become more responsible for the AI that they develop, Musk believes that corporations need to be regulated. Organisations with the monopoly on vast data centres and the latest in AI capabilities, wield disproportionate levels of power over the public. But we all know that corporations aren’t so keen on regulations, and taking steps to avoid such impositions will likely be the favoured approach. Research giant PwC has predicted that AI will replace up to 40% of jobs by 2030, with the financial sector being the most vulnerable to automation. So, it pretty much looks as though the AI disruption is already happening.
The Dawning of a Brave New World
Is there any good news with the rise of AI? A plethora of benefits comes with automation of jobs, such as more accuracy, accountability and a higher quality of service for customers, as well as serving to make business processes more efficient. Not to mention that AI is said to be revolutionising the healthcare sector, creating better diagnoses, treatment and care for patients.
Hubspot CTO and Co-Founder Dharmesh Shah seems to think that bots will make us better at our jobs and more secure in the workplace, not the other way around. Jeff Morgan, writer for The World Economic Forum asks; ‘robots have been taking our jobs for fifty years, so why are we worried?‘. But with all the pros and cons of AI, it’s hard to image a future intelligence-lead society as being one of calm and security. With the inevitable being a tough pill to swallow, we look at the jobs that are the safest and most threatened by artificial intelligence.
The Future of Work: Threats and Security
Jobs that are heavy on processes and require accuracy, reliant on data but involve little to no emotional intelligence, are the ones under the most threat. Telemarketers are perhaps the most obvious industry, with already less than a 10% conversion rate, it’s ripe for automation. With autonomous vehicles already being prepped for launch, the logistics industry will be heavily hit, such as truck drivers, couriers and cabbies being replaced by bots.
On the other side of the spectrum, the jobs that are focused on working with others requiring high levels of emotional intelligence, such as mental health workers and occupational therapists, are society’s safest. Let’s be honest, it is difficult to imagine robots replacing Reverends and AI becoming original, authentic artists. But with the speed in which the world of work is changing, who really knows how it will exist in the next one hundred years or less. Discover the most and least safe jobs in the lists below, according to The Future of Employment.
The Jobs Most at Risk
- Telemarketer – 99% Chance of automation
- Loan Officer – 98% Chance of automation
- Cashier – 97% Chance of automation
- Paralegal and Legal assistant – 94% Chance of automation
- Taxi driver – 89% Chance of automation
- Fast food cook – 81% Chance of automation
The Safest Jobs
- Mental health and substance abuse social worker – 0.3% Chance of automation
- Occupational therapist – 0.35% Chance of automation
- Dietitian and nutritionist – 0.39% Chance of automation
- Physician and surgeon – 0.42% Chance of automation
- Clergy – 0.81% Chance of automation
Source: The Future of Employment
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