Relax, Robots Aren’t Taking Your Job

As robots slowly plot a world-takeover, evidence shows that our jobs are safe (for now).

Economists, sci-fi enthusiasts, and maybe even your mother are certain that soon you will be without a job. Not because you aren’t immensely talented or gainfully employed, but because a robotic takeover is upon us. While the fear of a robot revolution may not be completely justified, it certainly can’t be ignored when thinking about the future composition of the global workforce. From bot-bosses to job shortages, the emergence of AI technology often paints a picture of dismay. But what if AI is actually here to help?

As the chief economist commentator for the Wall Street Journal, Greg Ip, is of the opinion that AI will do more than help, but it’s up to society to look beyond the smoke and mirrors.

The discussions around an AI takeover are “baffling and misguided,” shared Ip. “Baffling because it’s starkly at odds with the evidence, and misguided because it completely misses the problem: robots aren’t destroying enough jobs. Too many sectors, such as health care or personal services, are so resistant to automation that they are holding back the entire country’s standard of living.”

If Ip is right, could it be that society has been resisting an economic revolution for too long and that far-reaching impact of emerging technologies has finally caught up?

Perhaps, in order to ease our fears of AI crisis, it’s time we examine how artificial intelligence would supplement--not replace--industries and jobs. If the emphasis of AI is to make humans more efficient while eliminating the busywork, couldn’t the “fourth industrial revolution” truly improve our overall work and contributions?

Bob Lord, IBM’s chief digital officer, agreed with Ip’s sentiments. He shared that more jobs will be created and supported as AI technology permeates various industries allowing us as individuals and as a society, to “rise up a level.”

In an effort to encourage distance between the fears of a robotic takeover and the reality of AI’s potential influence, AI Tribune examined two facets of employment that have been widely discussed as areas in question. Beginning with the hiring processes itself--will personal data and machine learning determine your next career move?

Hiring and Talent Acquisition

Even if there’s a zero possibility of a robot taking over your job (you can check here), there’s still a slight chance that one may hire you. In a 2018 report published by Glassdoor, chief economist, Andrew Chamberlain, discussed how human resources (HR) professionals and job applicants will be equally impacted, but not replaced by AI. "Rather than replacing HR experts, revolutionary new AI tools are complementing people's skills," wrote Chamberlain. "AI is taking over low-value aspects of many HR jobs, allowing professionals to focus on higher-value uses of their time."

While there are a plethora of vendors and companies currently creating AI interfaces and tools to aid in the hiring process, don’t expect robots to be conducting interviews anytime soon. Instead, data combing on resumes and applications can provide predictive matches for eligible candidates, eliminating the need for hiring managers to tirelessly review unqualified candidates.

Ultimately, technology experts and data scientists agree that humans still need to be involved in the hiring process. Phil Alexander, CEO and founder of Nexus A.I., a software that helps enterprises find employees or teams that match their project needs, suggested that when it comes to the hiring process "AI allows humans to have a sanity check with an unbiased recommendation.” According to Alexander, the vast amounts of data that can be collected and processed extends far beyond human capability. “Having the data crunching capability and insight of AI can validate the innate human 'gut' feel, and allows a business to help free up its valuable human capital to focus on more urgent or critical activities," Alexander added.

(Traditional) Job Seekers

When talking about AI’s influence, it’s much easier to discuss industries that currently integrate aspects of technology or automation, but what about the broadly titled, yet essential “traditional jobs” like skill laborers and those in the service industry? While many of these careers may be considered first in line when it comes to automation, existing data disagrees. In the Glassdoor report, Chamberlin discussed that “when it comes to sheer numbers of jobs added, many of the fastest growing jobs in 2018 are likely to be in roles that have been pillars of the economy for decades.”

In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, traditional jobs such as restaurant waiters, janitors, construction laborers, customer service representatives, landscapers, truck drivers, and maintenance workers are top occupations for job growth between 2016 and 2026. However, if traditional jobs are set for growth, we would be remiss to leave AI out of the conversation.

WSJ columnist, Ip, suggested that instead of worrying about the destruction of traditional industries, AI technologies should prompt a change in priorities. “Business leaders need to figure out how to use them more, especially in low-productivity sectors. Someday robots may replace truck drivers, but it’s much more urgent to make existing drivers, who are in short supply, more efficient.” he added.

Overall, when discussing the potential changes to traditional jobs and industries, Chamberlain also noted that it is important to consider that each role “solves hands-on, practical problems that are both labor intensive and hard to automate at scale. Landscapers, construction workers, and maintenance crews use technology that automates parts of their jobs. But most of these jobs still require human flexibility and judgement. Similarly, AI and technology can handle routine aspects of customer service, but many components of these jobs — such as handling unforeseen customer problems with humor, empathy, and grace — are eminently human and won’t disappear anytime soon.”

When AI’s influence travels beyond traditional jobs and hiring managers, it’s certain that humans will need to adopt new processes and adapt to ever-changing workflows in order to create job security, especially when discussing careers outside of the tech industry. The potential impacts on education, mass communications and journalism, even accounting and finance are imminent and unavoidable. As it becomes more difficult to resist the forces of AI in our everyday lives, perhaps humanity will make a mental shift and think about how AI can help, instead of hurt the future of economic success and employment.

Interested in taking a deeper dive into AI’s impact on other industries? Let us know in the comments below.

About the author

Jennifer Palma Sanchez is a communications expert with over a decade of experience in marketing, public relations, and corporate communications. Follow @palma_lita to keep up with her perpetual desire to learn something new.