Overview
This lecture discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact the future of work, focusing on the automation of job tasks, changing job requirements, and the creation of new roles related to AI.
Impact of AI on Job Automation
- Entire jobs are unlikely to be fully automated; instead, specific tasks within jobs will be automated.
- Automation will increase over time, pushing jobs to emphasize uniquely human skills like creativity, intuition, and interaction.
- Current technology allows high percentages of certain job tasks to be automated (e.g., 90% for welding/soldering, 73% for food service, 86% for bookkeepers/accountants).
- For some roles, advances in AI (especially natural language processing) may lead to the position disappearing (e.g., mortgage brokers).
Technological Advances and Job Changes
- Natural language processing (NLP) is rapidly increasing the number of automatable tasks in fields like healthcare (from 43% to 66%) and retail (from 53% to 60%).
- As more tasks become automatable, job roles will shift towards tasks that require human judgment and understanding.
Emergence of New Job Categories
- AI will create jobs categorized as trainers, explainers, and sustainers.
- Trainers teach AI systems to interpret tone, sarcasm, and global perspectives (e.g., customer language trainers, worldview trainers).
- Explainers clarify AI decisions and design choices for business transparency and usefulness (e.g., transparency analysts, usefulness strategists).
- Sustainers maintain and oversee AI systems, focusing on efficiency and ethical use (e.g., automation ethicists, machine relations managers).
The Evolving Job Market
- New jobs will emerge as AI and technology develop, similar to roles created with the rise of the web.
- These new positions will often not require programming but will value process knowledge and people skills.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Automation — The use of technology to perform tasks without human intervention.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP) — AI technology that allows machines to understand and process human language.
- Trainer — A person who teaches AI systems to interpret complex human behaviors and perspectives.
- Explainer — A role focused on making AI decisions transparent and understandable in a business context.
- Sustainer — Someone who maintains, evaluates, and ensures the effective and ethical operation of AI systems.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review assigned readings on trainers, explainers, and sustainers.
- Prepare examples of new AI-related job roles for class discussion.