Will robots cost us our jobs_

[00:00.66] As new technology is introduced, there are many who worry about its impact on our current and future lifestyles – particularly when it comes to jobs.

[00:11.29] It is a current belief that with the rise of robotics and artificial intelligence, many people’s jobs, and therefore their livelihoods, are likely to be lost to automation.

[00:22.71] This type of fear isn’t new. In the 19th century, the automated weaving machine was revolutionising the English textiles industry and would contribute to the Industrial Revolution.

[00:34.93] When manual workers became redundant, it sparked protests at the loss of their vocation.

[00:42.10] Automation in the work place is nothing new.

[00:45.55] Machines have been performing menial tasks on our behalf for years, allowing us to escape the drudgery that accompanies many repetitive jobs.

[00:55.64] In fact, the International Federation of Robotics states that in manufacturing on average there are now 74 robots per 10,000 employees. That has risen from 66 in 2015.

[01:10.52] General Manager of Digital Customer Engagement Solutions at tech firm Nuance, Bernard Louvat, believes that ‘AI is a big threat to low-skilled jobs, no question.’

[01:22.74] He also thinks that AI chatbots will oust most call centre staff within a decade.

[01:28.85] When you consider that a large telecoms company like AT&T employs around 100,000 call centre staff, that’s a lot of people on the dole.

[01:40.27] And that’s just one industry. A recent report from the McKinsey Global Institute, a private sector think tank, states that nearly two thirds of all jobs could have at least 30% of their activities automated by 2030.

[01:57.27] However, McKinsey also believes that this new technology will also ‘create new occupations that do not exist today, much as technologies in the past have done.’

[02:09.49] As the horse gave way to the car, hostlers became mechanics and mechanised manufacturing drove up wages and created more long-term roles than it destroyed.

[02:20.11] In fact, figures from the World Bank have shown that despite a 2.2 billion rise in population between 1991 and 2017, global unemployment has fallen by 0.3%.

[02:34.19] ‘It’s an evolution of work’ says Ian Barkin, co-founder of Symphony Ventures, a robotic process automation specialist.

[02:43.49] As low-skilled jobs are taken on by AI, people will need to learn new skills.

[02:49.06] ‘This calls on us to focus on up-skilling, Technology can lead to job reductions but it doesn’t have to,’ says Barkin.

[02:57.56] Whether or not robotics and AI will leave us all jobless remains to be seen.

[03:03.14] Current views on the subject are mixed. Increased automation could indeed lead to a loss of some jobs, but at the same time is likely to create many more as new skills are required.

[03:16.16] Will they balance out? I’ll get my AI assistant to get back to you on that one.