The buzzword nowadays is AI, and there has been non-stop debate over how work will change in the future. By 2020, experts predict about seven million jobs will be lost and two million gained as a result of technological development.
It is no doubt that we will see a dramatic re-shape within the working environment, and our careers for that matter. Therefore due to the prevalence of this topic, this was one of the most important questions we could as our panel.
Jonathan Kestenbaum
I believe artificial intelligence and intelligent workflows will make monotonous and rather simple tasks automated, leaving employees to focus on the creative aspects of their role.
Jonathan Kestenbaum, Executive Director, Talent Tech Labs
Cheryl Cran
Cobots “collaborative robots” are going to change the nature of work – job descriptions will be refined to focus on outcomes and projects, not tasks, as robots will work collaboratively with employees to produce work outcomes faster and more accurately.
Cheryl Cran, CEO & Future of Work Expert, Synthesis at Work Inc
Nathan Perrott
There will not only be changes in how we work, but also in what the workplace of the future looks like. Technology has and will continue to allow greater collaboration, drive efficiencies and improve effectiveness in the workplace. We’ve seen the possibilities of that already with virtual, augmented and mixed realities (for example, Microsoft’s Hololens). Longer-term, we’ll probably continue to see technology replace jobs that are primarily task focused, through increased automation. This in turn, will continue to lead to the over-supply of unskilled labour and under-supply of skilled labour. Certain sectors already suffer from severe skill shortages.
Nathan Perrott, Director of Digital Marketing Strategy, AIA Worldwide
Adam Glassman
I envision a world where technology can handle much of the mundane, repetitive tasks and let the recruiters focus on building people-centered relationships. Technology should make our lives easier, and in turn, there should be a re-emphasis on people skills in our space. This combination will help create a much more positive candidate experience as well.
Adam Glassman, Recruitment Strategies Manager, Alorica
Hung Lee
Technology will have impact work in two main ways – enhance or replace. There is no question that a great deal of what we currently consider economically valuable work will be conducted entirely by machines who can simply do the job more efficiently, at higher volume, to a higher level of quality. Humans will migrate to the work that machines still find difficult to do – stuff that most typically involves working other other human beings – technology in these jobs will augment human performance rather than replace human actors.
Hung Lee, CEO, WorkShape.io
Chris Russell
I’d say its already having massive effects from data-driven jobs to inserting micro-chips into workers hands. Look to companies like Amazon, they are a window into the future of work and life.
Chris Russell, Managing Director, RecTech Media
Bryan Chaney
Let’s go ahead and call this: ‘ROBOTS ARE NOT STEALING OUR JOBS’. I think automation, like every technological advancement, will change the definition of what it means to be a working human. This is work that won’t go away, but it will evolve into jobs that require complex judgment or perception. Even the best algorithms today still make mistakes and artificial intelligence will help repetitive working machines learn from those mistakes. Plus, we’ll always need people to work on the machines.
Bryan Chaney, Director of Employer Brand, Indeed