The lightning speed at which artificial intelligence (AI) has advanced and entered our daily lives continues to elicit mixed reactions. While many are excited about the possibilities it opens up, others are worried about its potentially deleterious impact, especially in the workplace.
This feeling of unease is understandable. During previous technological paradigm changes, the changing nature of work has given rise to new jobs that were previously unimaginable. When mechanical robots were deployed in the automotive industry in the 1960s, new roles were created to oversee them. Experts believed that automatic teller machines (ATMs) would replace up to 75% of tellers. Instead, banks invested the savings made with these machines in building new branches and creating new teller jobs. Likewise, the arrival of advanced AI, such as Large Language Models (LLMs), has opened the way for new professions, such as assistive engineering.
An objective analysis shows that new technologies have generally made workers more productive and contributed to greater economic growth. So, it's understandable to fear that AI will replace jobs, but in many ways, technology is making human capital more valuable than it was.
AI is leading us towards the rehumanization of work
Despite all the talk that calls for the replacement of man by machine, human work has never been more valuable.
In a context of slower workforce growth, an overabundance of capital, and the growing importance of intangible assets such as intellectual property and customer networks, the balance of power is moving from capital to work. Today's business needs a new mental model that rehumanizes the way we think about work.
Bain & Company, The Working Future: More Human, Not Less
For some time now, automation has made the robot disappear from humans, and recent advances in artificial intelligence point to a future where software robots will be able to take on an even greater part of the non-creative work. A study published by forbes conducted by “researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and OpenAI found that some educated white collar workers earning up to $80,000 per year are the most likely to be affected by workforce automation.” This observation strongly underlines the urgent need to redefine our vision of work and automation.
The Bain report goes on to say that in the future, Successful businesses “will stop managing workers like machines, but instead help them build their personal abilities and create a career that matches their idea of a meaningful life.. As part of this framework, leaders will reorganize workflows to help individuals make the most of their unique human advantages.”
The search for meaning or when work can no longer be more than a simple livelihood
At the beginning of the 20th century, some theorized that technological advances would reduce the work week to 15 hours. We know what happened to it. Despite major technological advances, employees in most developed countries still work an average of 35 hours or more per week.
While some see it as a failure, it at least highlights an aspect of the job that isn't talked about enough. Even with enough money to support themselves, many people choose to continue working. Not only because it brings them other benefits, such as motivation and belonging to a group, but also because Their use embodies the search for meaning that drives them.
A survey conducted among European employees has also shown that 55% would continue to work even if they could afford not to.
It is clear that this does not apply to everyone, especially those whose functions lack creativity and autonomy. In the United States, less than a third of employees are actively engaged in their work. Globally, only 20% of employees say they feel engaged at work for a variety of reasons. However, research generally shows a positive correlation between creativity and engagement. In addition, AI tools increase the value of human creativity and allow employees to spend more time doing satisfying work.
When the technical barriers to creativity are eroding
Since computers have existed, coding has been a necessary skill to create software. But things are changing with generative AI tools. Users can now describe the programs they want to create using everyday language, which allows people without technical skills to exploit their creative potential. These advances are based on tools No code that allow developers to quickly create powerful automations.
In the future, the creative thinking required to design useful software will be a fundamental, and truly human, added value. The current LLM generation seeks to make assumptions based on user questions, but they can't generate truly original ideas the way humans can.
By removing the technical barrier between a new idea and its realization, millions of people without technical training will be able to exploit their creativity to create new products and services.
About StoryShaper:
StoryShaper is an innovative start-up that supports its customers in defining their digital strategy and the development of automation solutions tailor-made.
Sources: StoryShaper, Bain & Company, Forbes, Springer Link, UiPath.
