How humans should react to rapid change in technology: Lessons from History and AI

In December, I was in London for an event specially for digital experience leaders. One of the major points of discussion was AI and its potential influence or impact on work. After one of the sessions, I had an interesting conversation with someone from Adobe (Let's call them John), at some point we started discussing AI and its potential economic impacts, ultimately segueing into the Luddite discussion. And then I thought, you know what, I'll write an article about this.

So today I'll be diving into how humans should react to rapid change in technology using the Luddites as a case study.

But first, what's happening with AI and jobs lately? has it happened before?

Over the past year, there has been a significant uptick in job cuts attributed to the integration of AI and emerging technologies. For instance, US firms have announced 4,600 job cuts related to AI since May. Google laid off hundreds of workers in its hardware, voice assistance, and engineering teams, while Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft also implemented significant job cuts. These layoffs are attributed to companies investing in AI to streamline operations and remain competitive. (Companies won't directly say so though)

Read more from Bloomberg and CBS News

...umm yes, history teaches us about the impact of technological advancement on job creation and elimination.

Let's delve into history to understand how technological progress has shaped employment dynamics over time. It seems that with each technological breakthrough, massive workforce disruption follows. History has proven this from the Steam Age to the present AI Age.

Imagine history as a long journey, with technology as the travel companion. This companion has changed a lot over time, leading to both exciting advancements and bumps along the road for workers.

Let's explore some key eras and see how they impacted the workforce landscape:

1. The Steam Age (1700s-1800s): Think powerful steam engines chugging away! This era saw machines replacing manual labor in fields like farming and manufacturing. While exciting, some workers, like weavers, worried about losing their jobs and felt threatened. This is where the "Luddites" came from, protesting against the changes.

2. The Electrification Age (Late 1800s-Early 1900s): Lights on! Electricity brought factories to life and new jobs emerged in areas like power generation and appliance manufacturing. However, some manual laborers, like coal miners, faced challenges as their roles transformed.

3. The Automation Age (Mid-1900s): Robots arrived! Assembly lines became more automated, leading to increased productivity but also potential job displacement in repetitive tasks. Workers needed to adapt and learn new skills to stay relevant.

4. The Computer Age (1970s-Present): Boom! Computers revolutionized everything from communication to banking. New jobs like software developers and data analysts appeared, while some traditional roles, like travel agents, evolved or even vanished.

5. The AI Age (Present-Future): Artificial intelligence (AI) is automating tasks even further, from analyzing medical images to composing music. While exciting possibilities exist, concerns about job losses in many sectors like transportation and customer service are rising.

Some important notes from here:

• Technology doesn't always just eliminate jobs; it often creates new ones. The key is to be adaptable and willing to learn new skills.
• The impact of technology on jobs is complex and varies across industries and individuals.
• Finding solutions like retraining programs and social safety nets is crucial to help workers navigate these changes.

These three points bring me to the next section of this article, the main point of discussion today:

How should we react to rapid change in technology? Luddites as a case study

Imagine going back in time to the early 1800s in England. The Industrial Revolution is in full swing, and factories are popping up everywhere. These factories promise progress, wealth, and convenience, but for some folks, they feel like monstrous machines threatening their way of life. Unwilling to surrender their skills to the cold efficiency of machines, the Luddites rose to the challenge.

Picture this: Ned, a skilled weaver, spends his days meticulously crafting beautiful fabrics on his reliable loom. Suddenly, these modern, "iron power looms" appear, clanking and whirring their way into existence. They're faster, cheaper, and require less skill, which spells disaster for Ned and his fellow weavers. Their livelihoods, their pride, and their very identities feel under attack by these iron horses.

The Luddites, named after a mythical figure who supposedly smashed weaving machines, weren't just a bunch of angry smashers. They were skilled artisans who felt their knowledge and expertise were being undervalued. They protested, petitioned, and even resorted to nighttime raids, "persuading" the power looms to take a permanent vacation with a well-placed hammer blow.

Their story is one of resistance against rapid change, a fight for dignity in the face of technological disruption. It's a reminder that progress often comes at a cost, and the human impact deserves consideration. While their methods might seem extreme, the Luddites raise important questions that still resonate today:

1. Who benefits from technological advancements?
2. What happens to those whose skills become obsolete?
3. How do we ensure that progress doesn't leave people behind?

Now, let's take some time to answer each of these questions

Who benefits from technological advancements? Technology is a double-edged sword: cheaper gadgets and healthcare wonders for some, but job losses and digital divides for others. We need to bridge the gap by reskilling displaced workers, ensuring everyone has access to the digital world, and developing ethically sound tech that prioritizes both people and the planet.

It's not robots vs. humans, but rather choosing a future where innovation benefits everyone, not just the chosen few. It's important to ensure tech serves humanity, not the other way around.

What happens to those whose skills become obsolete? Instead of outright resistance, focusing on adaptation and upskilling is crucial. This requires investment in education and training programs to help these individuals develop the skills needed to thrive in a changing landscape.

The future doesn't have to be a terrifying robot takeover. It can be a symphony of human and technological potential.

How do we ensure that progress doesn't leave people behind? Again, We need to upskill workers, offer safety nets during job transitions, and design tech ethically for everyone. Open dialogue and collaboration among policymakers, tech giants, and individuals to shape a future where technology where technology empowers, not excludes.

In today's context, Rather than resisting, we can learn from the past and proactively prepare for the shifts brought about by AI and other innovations.

This leads me to the next topic: Copiloting with AI

Co-piloting with AI in this Era:

Co-piloting with AI refers to a collaborative and complementary relationship between humans and artificial intelligence systems. In this context, it suggests that humans and AI work together, much like a pilot and co-pilot in an aircraft. Each brings unique strengths to the table, with the AI system enhancing human capabilities and decision-making.

(Just like about 40% of this article is AI Assisted, thanks to Gemini, perplexity and chatGPT)

Advantages of Co-piloting with AI:

1. Enhanced Decision-Making: AI can analyze vast amounts of data in real-time, providing insights that may be beyond human capacity. Co-piloting allows humans to make more informed decisions by leveraging the analytical power of AI.
2. Increased Efficiency: AI excels at repetitive and data-intensive tasks. By co-piloting, humans can delegate such tasks to AI, freeing up time for more complex and creative aspects of their work. This leads to increased overall efficiency.
3. Error Reduction: Humans are prone to errors, especially in tasks that require sustained attention. AI, on the other hand, can maintain accuracy over extended periods. Co-piloting helps in reducing errors by combining the precision of AI with human oversight.
4. Learning and Adaptation: AI systems can continuously learn from new data. Co-piloting encourages a learning loop where AI adapts to changing circumstances, and humans, in turn, learn from AI insights, creating a dynamic and evolving partnership.
5. Task Automation: Mundane and repetitive tasks can be automated by AI, allowing humans to focus on more strategic and creative aspects of their roles. This not only saves time but also enhances job satisfaction.
6. Improved Safety: In critical sectors such as healthcare, finance, or transportation, co-piloting with AI can contribute to improved safety. AI systems can quickly identify patterns or anomalies that may be overlooked by humans alone.
7. Scalability: Co-piloting allows businesses to scale their operations without a linear increase in human resources. AI can handle routine tasks, enabling organisations to manage larger volumes of data and processes.

Co-piloting with AI is about creating a synergy where the strengths of both humans and AI are leveraged to achieve better outcomes than either could achieve alone. It's a strategic integration that aims to capitalize on the unique capabilities of both entities.

Conclusion

(At this point, I was already tired of writing, so I pasted the whole article into chat GPT and asked it to craft a conclusion, Who needs a pen when you've got a keyboard and a clever AI?… feel free to read with a monotone voice in your head ??)

In conclusion, history provides valuable lessons on how society adapts to technological advancements. From the Industrial Revolution to today's AI Age, each era has posed challenges for the workforce. Learning from past experiences, such as the Luddite resistance, helps us understand the complexities of technological progress.

Co-piloting with AI offers a promising approach to embracing the future of work. By collaborating with artificial intelligence, we can enhance decision-making and efficiency across industries.

To navigate rapid technological change, we must prioritize inclusivity, equity, and sustainability. This involves investing in education, establishing ethical guidelines for technology, and ensuring equitable distribution of benefits.

By applying these lessons and adopting a proactive approach to innovation, we can create a future where technology fosters positive societal transformation and empowers individuals and communities to thrive.

Thank you!

(That was my first LinkedIn article. Please let me know what you think)

Samuel Lasisi