ROBOTS ARE HERE
HUMAN BRAINS ARE AHEAD of any computerised capability to replicate the skill, yet these brains are computational, so how long will it be before man-made machines will carry out everything that the brain can do? The robots are here and automation will transform the workplace beyond recognition. Artificial intelligence (AI) – the capacity of a machine to simulate human intelligence – is bearing down on all of us.
Sooner rather than later, the evolution of technology and revolution in automation will take their toll of mere mortals’ jobs. Robots never suffer tiredness and don’t need time off as a precaution against spreading disease.
The inroads of AI, born in the 1960s, are on a sharply upwards curve: although the rate of change is open to question. Top research groups vary in their assessments, claiming from around 25% to more than two-thirds takeover within a generation or so. The automated march is unstoppable, yet it does not need to get out of control.
Today’s and tomorrow’s younger generations will need to adapt if they are to compete in what will be a far more competitive working environment. As well as improving basic skills in mathematics, science and technology, they will be forced into extending and fine-tuning creative and social capabilities.
EROSION
They have to be aware that the human advantage over computers is being eroded quickly and that growing older accelerates the process. The UK government reported way back in 2005 that 98% of under-fives could think in divergent ways. However, by 15 years of age this had dropped to 10% and only 2% of 25-year-olds were shown to be disparate thinkers.
Educational processes will have to change. The private and public sectors are going to face incredible pressures from these technological shifts and must be re-armed by futuristic apprenticeships, university courses and curricula in schools.
There seems little point in training youngsters to do things that are carried out better by machines. Nor in promoting individualism rather than co-operation, for there will be unavoidable future requirements for collaboration with robots.
We will need to teach ourselves to be better at creativity. We should want to rediscover the abilities that enabled us to think divergently, just as when we were small children. Through accepting this challenge, automation, it is argued, could end up making us all more creative.
SMARTER
Humans are smarter than you might think and have not reached their full potential. As AI frees us up from traditional tasks, soft skills will be more free to flourish. Cheer up, those in marketing communications and well beyond. Dialogue, critical thinking and cognitive flexibility abilities will be much in demand.
We’ll flesh out our higher-order thinking and emotional skills as the education system catches up with new definitions for human intelligence. Creativity is not necessarily inherent. It is a process and all processes can be developed.
Roles will change but there will be an abundance of challenging work for humans. We’ll break through with new ideas, better decisions, different ways of being productive. Entirely new needs and industries to satisfy them will emerge. The future for humanity remains bright if we adapt how we think about and value work.
Likewise, we should recognise that machines cannot make human futures. That is down to us and what we want to do with our world. There is no need to concede control.
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