"Job-Sharing" with Machines: The New Reality We Can't Ignore

Anyone who knows me understands how deeply I care about the future of work. The rapid rise of disruptive technologies like AI and robotics isn't just an exciting frontier—it’s a ticking time bomb for job displacement and the human condition.

The Looming Threat: AI and Job Displacement

The World Economic Forum isn't whispering when it says that 60% of jobs in advanced economies will be affected by AI and machine learning, with at least half of these impacts being negative. Let's not sugarcoat this: McKinsey estimates that 400-800 million people could be displaced worldwide by these technologies.

New Jobs, But Who—or What—Will Do Them?

Sure, Gartner optimistically claims that by 2036, new technology will create a net increase of about half a billion jobs. But let’s pause here. When we talk about "jobs," who’s assuming these will be done by humans?

There’s an underlying presumption that these new jobs are automatically human jobs. And it’s natural not to question this because history has programmed us to think, “people do jobs.” But that’s not going to necessarily be the case in the future.

Yes, we'll see new roles like Prompt Engineers, AI Experts, AI Psychologists, AI Consultants / Implementers / Trainers and even AI Lawyers. And there will be industries which will significantly benefit and grow from these new technologies. Think climate change, biomedical science, materials engineering, and quantum computing. But are we really assuming these jobs are ours to keep? The same technology displacing us today could very well take over the jobs of tomorrow.

The Emerging Roles in an AI-Driven World

The future of work will be shaped by three lenses of role creation:

1. Inventors & Creatives: These are the "What if?" people—analysts, designers, inventors, and entrepreneurs. They’re the dreamers pushing the boundaries, asking questions like, "What if we could reverse aging?" or "What if we could build skyscrapers in half the time?" They think about opportunities and possibilities that AI, Machine Learning, Robotics, AR, and VR can create.
2. Implementers: The "How can we?" crowd—engineers, coders, and marketers. These people figure out how to turn the "What ifs" into reality, developing the code, engineering the systems, and managing the change.
3. Ethical Gatekeepers: The "Should we?" people—politicians, policymakers, and advocates. They’re the ones often lagging behind, trying to catch up with the ethical, moral, and societal implications of these changes, often through legislation and standards.

AI Super Intelligence: Are We Ready for the Next Leap?

Mark Zuckerberg has been vocal—AI Super Intelligence is just moments away. We’re not just talking about AI that can beat you at chess; we’re talking about AI that matches or surpasses human cognitive abilities. And don't confuse this with Generative AI like ChatGPT—this is a whole different beast. We’re talking about Artificial General Intelligence or ‘Super Intelligence” that could easily outthink the average human, especially in jobs requiring "critical thinking." Let’s also consider advanced technologies like MidJourney and Hedra, they are pretty amazing at another skill which is meant to be only humanly possible, “creative thinking”. Let's just say... watch this space...

Generative AI (think ChatGPT) is in its infancy, with more powerful technologies like Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) currently building muscle in the biggest digital gyms you could imagine.

If you’re thinking your human brain will always be superior, you might want to reconsider. The cold, hard reality is that AI's intelligence is already on par with PhD-level expertise. Last I checked, not many people can claim that level of smarts—I’d estimate less than 1% of the working population. When we consider the core function of a knowledge worker... will we all need to be doing this critical thinking element? Or could it be satisfactorily be done by fewer people or possibly even more advanced technologies. Perhaps this critical thinking element will form part of the "should we" category of work which essentially screens AI generated outputs for bias, inaccuracy, intellectual property breaches or to finesse the nuances of the outputs to a particular client or company context.

I think there will be a place for "other thinking" capabilities of course. Instead of relying on the accumulation and regurgitation of "knowledge", we might begin to rely more heavily on unconscious processing (intuition) or perhaps sensing and knowing in the future. This could be very exciting indeed.

Rethinking Employment: Beyond the Traditional Job

Let's cut through the noise—full-time, part-time, five-day workweeks, why do they still exist? We're clinging to outdated structures that don't make sense in a world where machines could do more work than humans. We need to stop thinking in terms of "jobs" and start thinking about "work that needs to be done."

When we shift our focus, the implications for employment structures become clear. Why should a "job" require you to be there 40 hours a week? Why should the workweek even be a week?

From Jobs to Work: A New Perspective

This isn’t about job creation anymore. It’s about defining the work that needs to be done, and who—or what—is best equipped to do it. If we don’t start seeing it this way, we’re in for a rude awakening.

We need to understand that this isn’t just about technology—it’s about our place in a world that’s changing faster than we can comprehend.

The Urgent Need for Dialogue and Debate

We can't afford to sit back and wait for the inevitable. The future of work isn't just something to ponder over a cup of coffee—it's happening now. And the decisions we make today will define whether we're still relevant tomorrow.

Let’s talk.

Whether you're worried about your job, curious about how to stay ahead, or just want to engage in this crucial conversation, I'm here. Reach out for coaching, connect with me on LinkedIn, or book me to speak at your next event. This is a dialogue we all need to be part of.

Join me for a LinkedIn online event next week where we can start to discuss this important topic…. Friday 30th August – 2pm. To register click here… https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7232586821212250112/? Sign-in details will be sent to you.