Every day, people can see the increased reach that intelligent machines have on our society, from self-checkouts at grocery stores to more intensive robots in manufacturing. Much of the labor force has seen these developments and met them hesitantly, wondering if their jobs were at risk. But workers should not fear this change, as it is simply a shift in how business will be done, not eliminating human workers altogether.
While workers worry about their jobs being replaced by intelligent machines in the future, they need to realize that these machines are quickly becoming the present condition of several industries. Automation is the status quo because it leads to a significant increase in productivity, but that doesn’t mean that human workers are disposable. Instead, it means that they should expect the nature and responsibilities of their job to change.
Several industries have already incorporated robots into their operations, and it isn’t just in manufacturing. Skilled workers like surgeons have also seen their work supplemented by robots. But it should be looked at as such: a supplementation. The purpose of incorporating intelligent machines is not to replace human workers entirely — it is to increase their productivity by making the completion of their tasks more efficient.
In the manufacturing industry alone, robot density per worker has doubled in the past five years. But this does not necessarily mean that these machines will eliminate human workers in those positions overnight. It takes time for these machines to reach their optimal level of productivity and cost-efficiency, allowing workers to pick up the skills they need to transition their work from one being hands-on, directly completing the task to overseeing the work of these machines.
Workers need to understand that this shift is coming, whether they like it or not. And with the automation revolution set to occur within the next fifteen years, they must act now before it is too late to change their position. Workers can become an integral part of this new way of conducting business by picking up additional skills and undergoing further training. If workers don’t fall victim to the mindset that robots are after their jobs, they will see that, in actuality, enormous opportunities are opening up for them that they may not have otherwise had.
Workers need to embrace the shift towards automation. People should not think that robots are taking their jobs, but instead that the skills they need to be successful in their occupation are changing. When a robot is installed, it doesn’t just immediately begin to perform the task self-sufficiently. It requires oversight, and sometimes even operation, from its human counterparts. As such, employees may find their responsibilities within their organization changing.
One of the main things that must change before this automation revolution can occur is that the larger culture needs to embrace this shift towards intelligent machines. When all pop culture is perpetuating the myth that machine intelligence is inherently evil, it is hard to convince the public that this change is actually beneficial to them. To help this shift occur, we need to ensure that these perceptions are changed on a mass scale.
Another thing that needs to occur before the widespread transition to automation is more acceptance of intelligent machines in the legal space. Although certain standards and protections need to be in place to protect those working alongside robots, further regulation can hinder innovation. And innovation is necessary for the field to progress to a point where human and machine workers can coexist successfully.
At this point, it would be futile to resist the automation revolution because it has already begun. However, workers can and should take steps to ensure that they are adapting alongside these changing industries. Although the adoption of this technology will be widespread, there is still some time for workers to get ahead of the curve so that they do not become obsolete once the integration is complete.
