There has been an increase in public discussion over the last few years about the potential influence of artificial intelligence Malaysia (AI) and robotics on work. Despite the increased interest, little progress has been made in determining whether or whether AI and robots need such unique consideration. Specifically, are AI and robotics similar to previous innovations in that they cause alterations in the workplace while maintaining the core structure of work? Or are they unique in some sense, implying that this era is distinct?
On the technology side, the conversation frequently focuses on surprising examples of activities that AI and robots are now capable of performing, without contextualising those examples. How do they stack up against the complete range of work-related tasks?
Economic And AI
On the economics side, the discussion frequently relies on historical evaluations of technological advances without establishing that they apply to the current challenge. How can we be certain that AI and robotics will change work in the same manner that previous innovations have?
Neither of these approaches advances the argument beyond a basic repeating of competing conclusions about whether or not these new technologies would result in significant changes.
To make any headway in assessing the issue, it’s helpful to pay close attention to how these debates conclude, which is frequently with an enthusiastic description of the new jobs created by AI and robots. These are typically positions that require critical thinking, creativity, entrepreneurial initiative, and interpersonal contact. Finally, there is frequently a statement on the importance of enhancing education in order to better equip individuals for these new jobs.
What I’m suggesting is that one approach to determine if AI and robotics are fundamentally different from prior technologies is to think more carefully about the professions that will exist in the future and the education required to prepare for them.
Workforce And AI
In principle, as long as some forms of employment are available to people, we can develop a whole workforce and economic system around them. Two centuries ago, agriculture employed nearly 80% of the workforce. Since then, a succession of new technology has automated numerous agricultural chores, resulting in a steady decline in farm employment. Agriculture employs only a small percentage of the workforce nowadays. There is little difficulty seeing a similar transition occurring over the next few decades, in which AI and robotics automate a major chunk of present jobs and displaced workers—or their future replacements—shift to different sorts of labour.
It makes little difference to the running of a labor-based economy which jobs remain available to people. As many analysts suggest, it is possible that in a few decades, the majority of occupations would entail nonroutine work, with routine operations mostly automated. However, the economy could continue to function if technology allowed for the converse, allowing for the elimination of nonroutine work and the preservation of routine tasks. That may seem strange to us today, but such was the case in the nineteenth century, when early technology removed manual labour in favour of more standardised tasks.
Significant Impact of AI
Whether or not technology adoption results in job upskilling or downskilling has a significant impact on the difficulties of the transition for workers. It is as easy to picture an economy requiring more nonroutine work or more routine tasks from a macroeconomic perspective. In terms of education and training, however, it is likely to be far more difficult to upskill a workforce to perform more nonroutine jobs than it is to downskill a workforce to perform more routine duties. Indeed, in some instances, the level of upskilling required may be impractical.
To determine if AI and robots are likely to alter the fundamental structure of labour, we must first determine whether these new technologies will necessitate viable adjustments in job capabilities. If the modifications are practical, the overall effect of AI and robotics is expected to resemble the changes that have occurred with past technical advancements. However, if the required modifications in job skills are not practicable, this time will very certainly be different.
