The impact of robots on occupations- ARTICLE GATE

 With the rise of Industry 4.0, robotization and delivery services that do not need human power, the destruction of the labor market is now a known fact. 

However, all this brings along very interesting questions: Are we ready, sociologically and psychologically, for the changes that will increase our free time as a workforce? Can we look at the socio-economic background of the era of the steam engine or electricity and learn from what happened? How did we manage the transformation process when computers came and became an essential part of our business life? 

There is a variety of evidence to suggest that these new changes we're talking about will happen to a serious socio-economic extent compared to the uneven technical developments we've seen so far. 

The automation brought about by advanced robotics and AI technology will not only impact entry-level workforce requirements and positions. Economic gains are also achieved by reducing the time that higher positions and roles devote to routine tasks and services in the workplace. Will it be a win for an employee who can invest more in more intellectually challenging tasks? Will it enable people to develop themselves more quickly? 

Our expectations are in this direction and even more: There will be more productivity in the workplace, increased safety and career development opportunities will increase.

Are modern technological innovations so intense and massive that they are expected to bring fewer job opportunities and a drastic increase in leisure time in the Western world in the future? 

Or are we witnessing a “cyclical effect” in which the workforce level is improved as entrepreneurship and new types of talent become popular, while some sectors and talents disappear? 

Some argue that many hard-won professional qualifications are threatened with extinction. We have a future in which economic productivity cannot be independent of the real workforce. Let's ask it differently, can an economy with a rapidly shrinking national payroll continue to grow? How is this possible? 

First of all, the automation of repetitive and data-driven tasks in the workplace will lead to the emergence of new business areas. Studies on topics such as how humans and machines can work together more efficiently will increase. Second, employees' robotic teammates, namely "cobots", will be integrated into work environments, and their "old-fashioned" view of the differences between machine and human will have to evolve towards a workforce that is open to co-operation and collaboration.  

All this will show that the most compelling point in the automation puzzle lies in a combination of human and machine characteristics. 

The latest developments in robotization

Unemployed supermarkets 

Launched to a dedicated press group in June 2017, Moby Mart has become a living example of a fully automated supermarket. There are no employees here, the mobile grocery store continues to sell products such as bread, milk and cleaning materials every day in this innovative system.

Robot doctors

The AI-based mobile app CureSkin can diagnose skin conditions and recommend appropriate treatments and products. This example of innovation shows us how AI-based identification systems can take over the diagnostic role of dermatologists and how easy it is to track and monitor people's health without human intervention. Users upload a photo of their skin to the app, after which the AU analyzes the image and diagnoses diseases and problems. The app is also complete with a chat service that provides more information to the AI. In this way, the value provided by the machine is also increased. 

Creativity in machine management 

McCann Advertising Japan office hired an “artificial intelligence” creative director in 2016. AI determines the best commercial message text based on added data about a product or message. This system overturns the common belief that automation technologies will only affect blue-collar workers, and shows that data-based creativity is also under its influence in this era. 

This will be especially true for business tasks where a template can be defined. 

Developed with human support 

San Francisco-based tech company Kindred is developing a robotic system made up of human "pilots" wearing virtual reality glasses. Their goal is to make both more efficient by pairing robots and humans. The robot performs tasks based on algorithms, and when it cannot find a solution, the human calls for help from the "pilot". After human intervention, the robot learns and increases its efficiency. 

Key indicators for the workforce of the future

New professions will appear at each level 

Although blue-collar jobs and repetitive tasks are the first to be affected by automation technology, we can talk about a future where white-collar and even creative professions are under similar influence with recent developments in AI (such as machine learning, deep learning and natural language understanding).

New types of occupations will come very quickly

Emerging automation technologies indicate that a completely new job market environment is approaching. There is always a delay between acquiring new occupations and losing existing ones. Considering this situation, we can say that the processes of acquiring new skills and self-development will be key to success in the future labor market. 

Robots developed by humans

Robots and AI technology will inevitably replace many of the more data-driven and template-driven business functions, but there will also be an order in which humans and machines will work together to achieve the best level of productivity. 

Opposition to automation system 

Reactions to automation work are already starting to form, and companies will see more pressure to disclose their work and hiring processes in the future. Human recruitment can also be seen as a social responsibility metric. 

Universal Basic Income system gains popularity 

Political responses to automation efforts will also have an impact on business environments in the future. The Universal Basic Income (UBI) system is gaining popularity after being piloted in Iceland – especially in Spain and Switzerland. The workforce of the future will not have to be employed at the same hours or under the same working conditions as today.

Read on to find out how we can balance the destruction of career opportunities caused by advances in robotization with features such as increased leisure time, faster career advancement, and improved work-life balance.