With the introduction of artificial intelligence in the workplace, the threat that “big tech” poses to employment is swiftly increasing. Digital technology is changing the way work is distributed, but is it necessarily a development to be feared of?
Richard Baldwin, professor at the Graduate Institute in Geneva and author of the recently published “Globotics Upheaval: Globalization, Robotics and the Future of Work”, says artificial intelligence can already perform skilled labour tasks at the highest level. Recent technological advances have mostly impacted blue-collar manufacturing but left white-collar workers unscathed. However, Baldwin gives a new perspective and thinks that robots will be white collar —via what he calls “globotics”; an awkward portmanteau of “globalisation” and “robotics”. Businesses rely increasingly on using remote workers. If we combine it with fast machine-learning, it gives room for a disruption where white-collar and service workers could be displaced faster than anticipated.
It is commonly known that routine-oriented tasks, like scanning databases, can be completed speedily by AI software. In fact, as predicted by a Gartner report, 20% of workers engaged in non-routine tasks will rely on AI by 2022. Similarly, remote “gig” workers are able to perform all of the functions of an employee anywhere in the world at a cheaper cost.
However, this narrative is dubious. A recent paper by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that the number of US jobs that could be completely automated was fairly low (5%). Another study by the Organisation for Economic Development (OECD) suggested that the outcomes of automation and new technology will depend more on politics than robotics.
While many people see these developments as a threat to our society – rising unemployment or inequality etc – Mr. Baldwin states that this negative focus is not really justified : “we know that, while AI-driven white-collar robots are good at repetitive or predictable tasks, they fail at empathy, creativity and making ethical choices”.
This is where white collars might find an antidote to globotics: polishing their skills in areas where AI or remote gig workers cannot compete. Employees should realise that even in the age of robots, being human has its advantages.
