When computers first started becoming popular, people thought that they would ‘take away jobs’. Whilst in some instances this has been the case, for safety or efficiency reasons, there are now several roles that have been created because of (and for) technology.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics are becoming more and more refined, so it might only be a matter of time before they are widely implemented across various industries.
But is that a good thing or bad? You decide…
What Roles Could Be At Risk?
Low-paying roles that involve routine and repetitive tasks could be replaced with technology as a way of preventing user error.
When completing the same task over and over again humans tend to become careless, whereas a computer can perform them repeatedly without making mistakes.
Computers are also much better at sifting through data to get meaningful results quickly and efficiently, so they could be used to replace roles where analysis is required. They can also find patterns that the human eye might miss.
Which Jobs Could be Replaced by Technology?
Retail Workers
Online sales are becoming more and more popular because it is easier to order something online and have it delivered than to go out, search for the right product in a store, and risk not finding it.
Self-checkouts are already an established option in many stores, so it might be very possible that in the future, we don’t need retail workers at all.
Medical Diagnosticians
Whether it is detecting the risk of heart attacks or correctly identifying cancer from X-rays, AI seems better equipped at spotting critical medical information than humans. With such a high success rate already, it is possible that technology could replace people in the role of identifying diseases in the future.
Proofreaders
Writing is a job that is considered difficult to automate, but this might change in the future with AI becoming more creative.
However, once the content has been written, it is possible to automate proofreading. There are already several tools available that help you edit and refine your copy, so it is perhaps only a matter of time before it becomes fully automated.
Couriers
Delivery drones are already a reality, so parcel deliveries could become fully automated, with self-driving cars helping to power this revolution.
Compensation & Benefits Managers
Whilst Human Resource departments will be manned by humans, for the time being, it is possible to automate compensation and benefits services. This not only removes staff from what could be considered tedious work but also streamlines the process and makes it more efficient.
Taxi Drivers
Self-driving cars are no longer a science fiction dream, and with ‘smart’ cars already on our roads, we could soon be taking trips in vehicles that have no driver at all.
Would you feel safe in one?
Construction Workers
Japan’s Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology has already developed a prototype humanoid that could replace human labourers.
This robot could lift loads beyond human capabilities and replace humans in dangerous situations involving heavy loads.
Inventory Managers & Stockists
Advancement in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has resulted in systems that could automate inventory and stock management.
If adopted, these systems could help retail businesses save thousands a year in labour cost.
Farmers
Farming robots are not a new concept to the industry. Several ‘smart’ machines automate certain agricultural processes, and we even have cow milking machines that allow cows to milk themselves!
At this rate, it seems that farming will not require much human intervention at all.
Factory Workers
Depending on the industry, manufacturing can be both tedious and dangerous. If a worker loses concentration due to sheer monotony, they risk injuring themselves or others.
In this scenario, it could be better to have industrial robots that can carry out the tasks instead. They are already used as part of many manufacturing processes, so will they eventually replace all human workers too?
Lawyers
While lawyer-shows on television make it seem like a glamorous profession, a lot of the work undertaken is tedious.
With legal automation it is now possible to automate a great deal of their labour, like filing paperwork, creating wills and contracts, leaving them to concentrate on more complex cases.
Chefs and Wait Staff
Moley Robotics has developed a ‘robochef’ that can cook thousands of recipes, do the dishes, and act as a refrigerator. This could make manual cooking redundant not only in restaurants but in homes too.
Customer Service Workers
A lot of customer service has moved online, with social media playing a big role. However, with chatbots, customer service apps, and AI, it is possible to troubleshoot and build customer relationships without having a person involved at all.
Movie Stars
With giant leaps in CGI, VFX, and motion capture, it is entirely possible that movie stars could be replaced with digital avatars. Star Wars has already taken the first step by creating new footage with dead actors. Is it possible that CGI could put actors out of jobs too?
It seems inevitable that technology will replace several jobs in the near future, but as a result, is creating new roles too.
The introduction of AI and ‘bots’ are helping many businesses become more efficient and safer for workers, which can’t be a bad thing.
