What can workers, firms, and countries do to anticipate the coming changes?
The challenges and opportunities associated with work automation require a robust response from all stakeholders. In the meantime, firms are going ahead with adoption, implying that there is only little time to prepare (Bundy, 2016). Countries should prepare the population of the coming change in the workforce. Moreover, countries will need to come up with policies and plans to assist individuals and businesses in acquiring the maximum advantages of opportunities offered by technology. Consequently, countries will need to come up with strategies to address the impact of automation through educational policies as well as policies to help the workforce make transition to the automated economy.
Automation and AI in the workplace is a trend that is taking shape and could eventually affect the workforce globally. Workers will need to start acquiring new skills and adapt to the increasing machines working alongside them. Acemoglu and Restrepo (2018) stated that the job market would require different skills when automation is acquired. The demand for manual expertise will dramatically decrease. Additionally, with the inception of automation and AI, demand workers with creative skills since machines came to perform repetitive tasks previously performed by humans.
Firms should start redesigning workflow and workspace to adapt to the new era where people work more closely with machines. Although companies are impressed with productivity associated with automation and AI, there is a need for them to actively prepare against risks and dangers that may arise as a result of automation (Bundy, 2016). For instance, data security, and privacy are issues firms should find ways to address. Moreover, firms should take up the responsibility of equipping workers with the necessary skills to avoid disruption due to automation. The main goal is for the firms to instill a positive culture of automation within the workforce.
References
Acemoglu, D., & Restrepo, P. (2018). Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Work. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3098384
Bundy, A. (2016). Preparing for the future of Artificial Intelligence. AI & SOCIETY, 32(2), 285-287. doi: 10.1007/s00146-016-0685-0