There’s no denying the impact of automation in various modern industries, especially with the rise of social media and the digital age. The apprehension that robots and automation in general will take away most jobs is therefore understandable. But we must remember that these new technologies are not meant to displace work, as they likewise create thousands of new businesses and job opportunities, explains innovator and inventor Peter Zieve.
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Image source: weforum.org
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One good argument here is that automation ushers in complementary labor while allowing for reskilling. For instance, the rise of ATMs in the 1990s created a similar fear among bank tellers that these machines will take away their jobs. But the contrary happened; the task of dispensing money became automated, yes, but it actually increased hiring, freeing up tellers and other employees to focus and improve on other bank services, from accounting and sales to customer service.
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source: campaignlive.co.uk |
Technological disruptions will always occur, and it’s up to us to adapt, to rethink, and rebrand our creativity. Keep in mind that as machines become more powerful and more efficient, the need for human intervention also becomes more pressing. New technology is continuously being developed to support and integrate certain work, all with the goal of improving our digital fluency, something as important today as numeracy or literacy.
We’ve to invest more in our youth. Our children will grow up and take on new jobs, some of which don’t even exist today. These new job positions will be as specific as social media management and search engine optimization have been. These were not even career options just several decades ago, adds Peter Zieve. All in all, automation is not simply about learning coding, but acquiring new competencies which will allow for optimum skills mobility.
Peter Zieve is an inventor and innovator with 50 patents. He is the owner of Electroimpact Inc. Company, an innovative business organization focusing on assembly automation and robotics. More on Mr. Zieve and his work here.
