Will technological progress engulf our jobs? What are the consequences of this acceleration of technological change?
One of the most widespread fears in this period is that the human being becomes superfluous and is replaced by stronger and more intelligent machines.
For some, we are on the verge of a technological nightmare. But are we really? Are our children destined to be the last chapter in human history, before being replaced by robots? It is precisely by looking back at human history that we can catch a glimpse of our future.
We have been progressing rapidly for 200 years now: the internal combustion engine, electricity, aircraft, television, and the computer are all inventions that have had drastic effects on society. If technological change really made human beings superfluous, then after 200 years we should all be unemployed already.
Clearly, this is not the case.
It is true, however, that work has changed tremendously over the past 200 years.
In Europe back in 1861 70{ee25017dbf439c5d8a364370ccc5aa94a15a0d81480a32171a2586c46fdbd226} of the active population worked in the agricultural sector, today it is just 3{ee25017dbf439c5d8a364370ccc5aa94a15a0d81480a32171a2586c46fdbd226}. 67{ee25017dbf439c5d8a364370ccc5aa94a15a0d81480a32171a2586c46fdbd226} of Europeans therefore had to find a new job, transforming themselves into engineers, architects, developers, managers, teachers, researchers, etc., all jobs non-existent or unavailable in 1861. While innovation makes some trades obsolete, it creates new ones with the same speed. For instance, today we have music apps that give us freedom of options. You can download Spotify, SoundCloud or other music apps and start listening or promoting your music tracks. At the same time, you can buy Spotify streams, stay very active & engaged with the followers and get organic reach from the algo. Technologies currently give you freedom to access millions of people around the globe.
Innovation has created as many jobs as it has replaced. Indeed, many more. If we consider that the world population is now 7.7 billion, compared to the billion at the beginning of the nineteenth century, the absolute number of jobs has in fact grown enormously.
The role of ongoing formation
If there is one thing that has changed, it is the speed with which we are innovating. This brings us straight back to the smartphone. If that invention revolutionized our lives in 12 years, how swift and profound will the impact of the next technological wonders be? What should we do to avoid being replaced by a robot surgeon or a lawyer chatbot?
The answer is only one: we must continue to learn throughout our life. To stay in the saddle and not be unhorsed by change we must abandon the idea that once we have obtained a diploma, a degree, or a master and entered the world of work, we will no longer set foot in a class, whether physical or virtual. We must continue to learn new ways of doing things and be open to change.
Ironically, technology will help us in this, thanks to new business training software that will help companies train employees, to online courses optimized for mobile that will allow you to learn anywhere, anytime, about the application of artificial intelligence to training, etc.