Throughout the history of human civilization, there has been many major turning points in innovation and discoveries that have instilled awe as well as fear in the minds of people, so much so that the word Luddite (used for people who were strongly opposed to the introduction of textile mills during the First Industrial Revolution for fear of losing their livelihoods) has now become synonymous with all people who are against new technologies, be it industrialization, automation, or computerization.
The buzzword today is the Fourth Industrial Revolution—the current age where technology is embedded within societies and even the human body—be it Robotics, 3D printing, nanotechnology, Internet of Things, or autonomous vehicles. This will fundamentally change the way we live, work, and interact with one another.
Technological changes and innovations are taking place today at an unprecedented pace and scope and are having an impact on many disciplines. Technological innovation has reached a stage where machines have now entered the realm of what was once considered exclusively human. For these reasons, there is a wide section of people who fear this age of Robots. While the arguments over how much of our lives will be taken over by Robots are endless, what cannot be denied is that Robots are here to stay.
There are various advantages of automation today; there are also fears surrounding its advancement, which are not completely unfounded.
As mentioned earlier, this time automation is capable of impacting a wide range of disciplines. Thus, unlike in the past where only blue collar jobs were at risk of being replaced by machines, this time even white collar jobs are believed to be at risk. While this is not untrue, reports suggest that only around 5% of the total jobs may be totally replaced by automation. For other jobs, automation will only replace a part of the job and not completely take over.
There are, of course, those jobs in the 5% category that run the risk of being completely automated. These are the jobs that are routine, repetitive, and predictable. A few examples are telemarketing, data entry operation, clerical work, retail sales, cashiers, toll booth operators, and fast food jobs.
However, like in the past, people should be able to find a way to adapt to the changes. With each generation, humans become smarter, more adaptable to change, and also progressive. Also, with automation mostly taking over routine and tedious tasks, humans are provided the opportunity to make better use of their capabilities—be it reasoning, emotional intelligence, or their creativity. What we can do is not fret over the inevitable rather prepare for it. One way of doing so is to start changing the pattern of education. The next generation should be taught how to recognize and adapt to changes quickly. An important aspect of their education should be to learn how to learn.