How Will Machines and AI Change the Future of Work?

Several recent studies have examined how machine automation and artificial intelligence (AI) will change the future of work.

The Rand Corporation recently issued its own report on the future effects of automation and AI on jobs and the workplace. Osonde Osoba was a co-author of the report. 【小题1】

In 16th century England, Queen Elizabeth famously refused an inventor’s request for a patent for a device to make material for clothing. The Queen explained that the device would lead to major job losses, forcing affected workers to become “beggars”.

【小题2】 But he believes the future problems have been overestimated without historical evidence to back up the predictions.

The McKinsey Global Institute has also studied the issue. Its research suggests that up to one-third of work activities across 46 nations could be displaced by 2030. 【小题3】 It says this growth, along with other economic influences, could help offset (弥补) the displacement of millions of workers. “All workers will need to adapt, as their occupations evolve alongside increasingly capable machines,” the report said. This will require ongoing retraining of workers. In addition, employees will be spending more time on activities difficult to automate.

【小题4】 These include jobs depending on human motor skills, positions requiring creative thinking and actions, and jobs dealing with intense social interaction.

Rand Corporation’s Osonde Osoba agrees with McKinsey. He also thinks that it will be very difficult for companies to completely automate most jobs, because they require a worker to perform many different duties and to react to unexpected situations.