Will machines replace humans?
Advancing technology will never replace humans and their jobs because there will always be jobs that machines cannot carry out, and there will always be humans working in jobs such as those of judges, therapists, or kindergarten teachers. There will be an equilibrium of employment and unemployment rates because, even though machines will take over various jobs, it will also lead to the creation of new ones related to advancing technologies. Young people should be taught more things related to these new technologies, as they will live in a world surrounded by them, as well as regulating how much machines are used with the help of robot taxes.
Although it is uncertain, it is foreseeable that advancing technology will make some of us unemployable in the long term. Even though it is believed to occur in a distant future, it is so much closer to us than we want to believe.
Nowadays, jobs have already become automated, and organisations estimate that 34% of business-related tasks are operated by machines, leaving the 66% performed by humans. Some job positions, previously occupied by humans, are now being replaced by robots, computers, advancing technology, and Artificial Intelligence. An econometric analysis by economists at Boston University, Daren Acemoglu and Pascual Restrepo, estimated that each industrial robot reduces net employment by six workers, not just in factories but in entire industries.
There are also many jobs in which machines are substituting people when carrying out their jobs. This can be by using modern technologies which help them while they work or, in some cases, machines replacing humans and their jobs completely. An example of machines replacing humans is with new automatic driverless cars, trucks, and buses. These innovative technologies are planned to be introduced in Elon Musk´s company, Tesla, which plans to have autopilot cars. And there have also been great advancements in medicine, as surprising as it may seem, thanks to the fundamental role of advancing technology in medicine, especially in the diagnosis of different sicknesses patients may be suffering, as well as treating them correctly and managing patient care. This occurs thanks to several modern technologies, which have improved medicine significantly, thanks to advances such as MRI and CT scans, which provide detailed insights into the human body, aiding in accurate diagnosis. Additionally, robotic surgery systems enable minimally invasive procedures with greater precision than humans. Technology has also become integrated into pharmaceutical research, which has also led to the development of targeted therapies and personalised medicine for patients.
On the other side, in the past four years, AI specialist roles have grown by 74% in companies and enterprises, and it is also expected that AI will create 97 million new jobs by 2025, according to the World Economic Forum. These jobs will encompass areas such as data analysis, software development, and digital transformation. A report by Deloitte has found that the industries with the highest AI job growth include healthcare, finance, and technology. Also, a 2023 report by WEF has proven that the top trends in the AI job market include the growing importance of data science, the increasing demand for AI skills, and the rise of AI-related roles in non-tech countries.
Although there are certain jobs that are performed better by machines, there is also a wide range of jobs that require human interaction and intelligence, which cannot be replaced by machines.
It has been proven that advancing technology can make most jobs much better than humans, with more precision and without the necessity to pay for salaries. But AI is not qualified to take over all the jobs available in the world. These jobs are, amongst many others, the jobs of teachers, nurses, social workers, therapists, lawyers, writers, and artists. This is because they require human interaction between individuals or because they are too complicated for machines to carry out. A machine cannot be a therapist, because even though there are devices with which you can talk, such as Alexa, the job of a therapist requires talking with other people about their emotions and their feelings, which are things machines lack. Other jobs that cannot be replaced are the jobs of performing acts, because AI is not well-equipped to represent the expressions, agility, and precise movements portrayed by professional dancers. Similarly, AI cannot replace other performers, such as acrobats, circus artists, or magicians. Another prestigious job with a great reputation is the job of judges, because even though AI excels at repetitive legal tasks, there are some characteristics, such as human empathy and ethical considerations, which make complete replacement very unlikely in the next few years.
Although advanced technology has eliminated some jobs, it also has the amazing potential to create new job opportunities and augment existing ones. As technology advances, new roles emerge to develop, implement, and maintain AI systems. In addition, there will be a growing demand for jobs which enrol professionals skilled in machine learning, data analysis, AI ethics, and algorithm design. Therefore, we should take into consideration choosing to work in these jobs, which have a great reputation and a future ahead of them. Higher employment in these types of jobs is a solution to the problem of advancing technology making us unemployable because these jobs are the ones that make sure AI works correctly, and it ensures co-working between machines and humans, with a clear view of the future.
Last year, Elon Musk, owner of many worldwide known companies such as Tesla and rocket producer Space X, who has put money into AI firms and has applied this advancing technology into his driverless Tesla cars has said that “There will come a point where no job is neededyou can have a job if you want one for personal satisfaction but AI will do everything”. This clearly reminds us that our futures are at stake if we do not do something about this, because AI has replaced many jobs, and it has made these jobs better than humans would have done them, with greater precision.
There are some things that can be done to address the problem of AI taking over our jobs. These include investing in the education of young people as well as training them to acquire new skills which may make them stand out, as well as focusing on learning some fundamental things in this digital era, such as data analysis, critical thinking, problem solving, and programming. It would also be beneficial for people to learn how to adapt correctly in any circumstance and to transition correctly into new roles.
Over 20 million people under 35 are unemployed, and millions of people lack access to proper education and training. A McKinsey study from 2017 stated that by 2030, as much as 14% of the global workforce would have to change jobs or acquire new skills due to emerging technologies.
In a world where the future is full of innovative technologies, machines, and automation, humans must collaborate with technology, which leads to more efficient and innovative workflows, as technology is not a threat but an opportunity and a tool that enhances human capacities. It also helps to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, which can lead to new job opportunities and industries. This can be promoted by governments, which will be willing to aid their country financially, so they will provide support for startups and small businesses, which will augment economic growth and new job creation.
Another approach regarding machines is that their usage should be regulated, which will ensure ethical and responsible use of automation, AI, and other advancing technologies.
Another solution for this issue is robot taxes. Each machine that works in an enterprise or business has a tax, just as humans who work in companies have salaries that need to be paid by their employers. These taxes would help the government financially, allowing it to cover the necessities of the citizens who are unemployed due to technology.
Given the circumstances, a future in which advancing technology makes most of our current jobs disappear is not far away, as a wide range of jobs are being replaced by Artificial Intelligence, while another set of new ones will be created. A course of action to solve this problem is to implement the learning of various skills in young people, as well as learning how to use and handle technology correctly, while taxing robots for their usage, so jobless people can have an income.
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