Are future jobs in danger?


Introduction

Is technology going to take over our jobs in the future? That is a question that is often brought up when talking about the future of technology. What are we to expect to see in the next couple of centuries? The topic has been talked and, argued about for multiple years and is something that I wanted to personally talk about


Will we be replaced?

    People often ask if our jobs will be replaced in the future by robots. According to a CNBC article that was posted in 2019, a study from Oxford Economics stated that within the next 11 years, there could be 14 million robots put to work in just China alone. They claim but in the year 2030, we could see Robots taking over 20 million manufacturing jobs. They predict that by 2030 more than 1.5 million jobs would have been lost to robots in the US, 11 million in China. 

    One example out of the countless other examples of this beginning to occur in modern-day is with Amazon. Amazon, which was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, is now the world's biggest service. Amazon allows users to purchase almost anything you can think of and have it be shipped to their house within days. This eliminates many's need to go to the store and pick up specific items when they could just instead have their goods delivered straight to them.

    Another way Amazon is making a difference in the industry is with foods, specifically grocery stores. Amazon released its own grocery store to the public back in January of 2018 dubbed, Amazon Go. It is the first grocery store to offer simple walk in, walk out shopping. This means when entering the store you are able to just simply walk into the store, take what you want, and just walk out. No transaction within the store is required which means there are no lines and no checkout. The technology that Amazon dubs as "Just Walk Out Technology" will have you scan the Amazon Go app on your phone which is linked to your Amazon account. Amazon Go will automatically detect when products are taken from or returned to shelves. It will keep track of these items in a virtual cart. When the consumer is done shopping, all they have to do is walk out. Later, Amazon will send you a receipt and charge your Amazon account.



What jobs can robots not replace?

    Even with this, there are still many jobs that robots cannot replace. One for example is to be a Childcare expert. Robots would not be able to take care of small children like we humans do. Infants and or toddlers need actual human interaction in order for them to learn and grow. Another is Athletes which is pretty self-explanatory. Sports are about what is achievable by an individual, one who can make mistakes, perform in different ways, and feel emotion. Watching robots play sports would become pretty boring to watch as they don't have the same overall feel as real sports. Many others like Lawyers, which require strategy, analysis, negotiation would not work with Artificial Intelligence. 

Conclusion?

    Overall, we can say that we are nowhere near getting to this point anytime soon. There are still many jobs that are going to never have the ability to replace human capabilities. The human brain is something that brings a better sense of judgment, decision-making, and, complex reasoning over a robot. With that it is safe to say while some jobs can definitely be replaced in the future, there are still many that cannot. 

Works Cited

"Amazon Go Grocery." Amazon, Amazon.com, 2020, www.amazon.com/b/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_agojwo_1a1_w?node=20931388011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_r=8DM5T7CX8HHKQ5D9V0A1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=202bb5f6-3afe-4534-ad20-9eb246c4051a&pf_rd_i=16008589011. Accessed 13 Jan. 2021.

Bak, Simon. Amazon Go Store Front. 27 May 2020. Unsplash, unsplash.com/photos/OuKBpYTWLu4.

"The jobs that robots can't do." ThinkBuisness.ie, Bank of Ireland, 2021, www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/jobs-robots-cant-do/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2021.

Kelly, Andy. A Little Girl, Making Friends with a Robot. Unsplash, 4 Oct. 2017, unsplash.com/photos/0E_vhMVqL9g. Accessed 13 Jan. 2021.

Priya, Chan. "15 Jobs That Will Never Be Replaced by AI." Medium, A Medium Corporation, 3 Jan. 2020, medium.com/@ChanPriya/15-jobs-that-will-never-be-replaced-by-ai-512bfbbed0d6. Accessed 13 Jan. 2021.


Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2021 at 9:21 PM

    Really liked the data and research that was put into this! Where do you think all of the people working current manufacturing jobs will end up if their jobs get taken over by automated machines and robots?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Katie TierneyJanuary 15, 2021 at 9:18 AM

    This is crazy to think how soon this could be happening. I really liked how informative and educational this post was! I wonder what will happen if robots start taking over more and more. Also, will there be a much higher group of unemployed people? Overall I enjoyed reading this and it gave me some great insights.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ms. LaClairJanuary 17, 2021 at 4:43 PM

    What jobs do you think won't be able to be replaced by robots? Do any people work at the Amazon Go stores? Have there been tests to see how accurate the technology is, especially with a large grocery trip?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJanuary 20, 2021 at 8:39 PM

      I'd say jobs that require a sense of judgment, decision-making, and, complex reasoning. So jobs like this may include doctors, childcare workers, athletes, lawyers and judges, jobs similar to those. Yes, people do still work at Amazon Go stores, they work to stock the store shelves. There have been tests with Amazon's technology, if Amazon thinks that there may have been a mistake with your transaction when it comes to the items you've purchased, it will notify you to double check. This notification will usually pop up with toiletry items, and medicine. What is weird about this however is that it simply gives you the option to say "It was an error" and then you won't be charged. Meaning you could walk out of the store with a specific item and just say you didn't purchase it and get away with it. We still have a ways to go but hopefully this gives you a better idea of where we are right now with this sort of stuff.

      Delete

Post a Comment