Synthetic vs Natural: Contrast or Codependence
When you hear your local Kirana guy express concern about fully automated Amazon outlets in the US, and how even they, too, will ‘soon’ be robbed of their livelihood, you feel compelled to dispel their genuine concern. Not so interestingly, this fear about the ‘rise of machines’ is quite widespread cutting across people from diverse backgrounds and education. Hollywood is indeed guilty of way too many ‘false’ truths.?
Over the past decade, artificial intelligence has immensely contributed to the efficiency of work being done. Unsurprisingly, this has propelled us towards a prejudice toward the synthetic workforce, i.e. Artificial Intelligence, machine learning.
?We have been looking at these technological advancements as a threat; the omission of the human need for work in the near future. Since the human brain is wired to think in terms of binaries, it always tends to become a case of elimination of one or another in the near future.?
Introduced in classrooms, the word synthetic was/is a contradiction to ‘natural’; unfit for humans. A simple intervention to the prejudice, however, makes it clear that synthetic and naturally occurring, organic and inorganic, are neither good nor bad. They’re just descriptions.?
The future workforce
Before I elaborate any further, let’s settle on what constitutes synthetic worker/intelligence. With respect to this article, synthetic worker refers to computers and computerized equipment, including programmable robots. Broadly referred to as AI or machine learning, robotics or bots constitute the synthetic workforce. And, yes, these are technically different things. But, when in reference to this discussion, i.e. the future of work, these are interrelated.?
Any conversation around AI and the human workforce is perceived as, ‘Robots will replace the human workforce in the future!’ This doomsday prediction perceives bots (synthetic workers) as a staunch competition to humans and the human workforce. Amid all the exaggeration, the truth remains clear as ever; We’re pretty far from ‘Terminator’!
?Often perceived as competing with one another, it is essential to remain objective and view humans and AI as holders of different capabilities, strengths, and shortcomings. Well, you just can’t compare apples with oranges.?
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?While AI is undoubtedly fast, more accurate, and consistent, it cannot provide you with input on how you can create value in your business. Humans, on the other side, understand intuition, emotions, and are culturally sensitive. And, it’s exactly these abilities that make us more effective.?
The rise of an augmented workforce
The future of work isn't a last-man-standing contest, in which there can only be one winner. The grim picture of ‘AI taking over’ is one that may be restricted to high-budget movies and their stories. Our future will be one where synthetic workers will work alongside natural workers to produce a diversified and augmented workforce.
As an aftermath of the great Industrial Revolution, a certain kind of job disappeared, leaving many dejected and uncertain. However, it opened up avenues for many more, enhanced the quality of repetitive work, and allowed humans to look at jobs that were rooted in creativity and intuition.
According to the World Economic Forum's "The Future of Jobs Report 2020", AI is expected to replace 85 million jobs worldwide by 2025. Sounds scary, right? But there’s more to the picture. The report further adds that it will also create 97 million new jobs in that same timeframe.
This partnership between the two can only exist if its foundations are built on trust & co-dependency. It is undeniable that machines and AI can enhance and amplify the efficiency of work. And even amid the uncertainty of the future, with the right resources and cooperation, the combined forces can achieve both efficiency and innovation without having to reinvent the wheel.
P.S. How will I explain all this to my Kirana guy? Any tips are welcome.?
Director - Customer Success, Tech Advisory, Online and Platform SBU | Brillio - A Bain Company | Ex Oracle
2 年This is indeed a concern and has to be looked with urgency as we are talking about climate change nowadays..Businesses are being perennially being pushed by shareholders/markets to become efficient and on the lack of top line growth , making operations more efficient by automation / intelligent systems are becoming more widespread. Right now its making SMEs / local Kirana's vulnerable but in a decade or so this trend will make almost half or more of the skills in industrial roles redundant. We are already seeing what 3D printers and arrays of robots in Tesla giga factories are able to do now.Its not the rise of machine which takes over human control as is depicted in many Hollywood movies an immediate threat, its how we manage and channelize this disposable human bandwidth being available due to automation to more relevant purpose needs to be seen. Its lot of work cut out for the policy makers for that fine balance and the corporations investing in automation needs to be jointly in this.
Accomplished Technology Executive Leader | MIT Certificate, Business Transformation
2 年Piyush good to see your article. WEF IN 2017 PUBLISHED ANOTHER article which talked about how the world GDP was about 90+ T $ mostly based on natural resources. To support the human growth with prosperity, continuing in this trajectory would drastically alter our earth as we know it. The next 90T$ of GDP growth needs to come from using non natural or digital resources. What is happening , as stated by you, is that playing out. The swap of humans depending in natural versus digital resources based economic activity will increasingly dramatically over the next 25 years and , if we manage the transition well, it will help sustain the prosperity growth while preserving earth. This is the macro economic view. But the transition , at individual and groups of people level will be a little painful (social security needs to step in) or human resource change (skills and internships) will be needed. My 2 cents.