We’re on the cusp of a major shift in the workforce. Advances in artificial intelligence and robotics are going to automate many jobs that have long been done by human beings. This will cause massive disruptions in the economy and society as a whole. Here are some of the most likely candidates for automation in the near future.
1. Data entry clerks. Data entry is already one of the most automated jobs out there. With new AIs capable of understanding natural language, it’s only going to get easier for machines to do this work. In the not-too-distant future, data entry will be completely automated.
2. Customer service representatives. AIs are already handling basic customer service tasks, such as resetting passwords and answering simple questions. As they become more sophisticated, they’ll be able to handle more complex tasks, such as diagnosing problems and offering solutions. Eventually, there will be very few human customer service representatives left.
3. Assembly line workers. Robots have been doing assembly line work for years now. As they become more advanced, they’ll be able to do even more, such as quality control and product testing. This will put even more pressure on companies to move their manufacturing operations overseas, where labor is cheaper.
4. Delivery drivers. Self-driving vehicles are already being tested by major companies such as Google, Uber, and Tesla. They’re not quite ready for widespread use yet, but it’s only a matter of time before they are. When that happens, delivery drivers will be out of a job en masse.
These are just a few of the many jobs that will soon be replaced by AIs and robots. It’s important to remember that this isn’t necessarily bad; automation can lead to increased efficiency and lower costs for businesses, which ultimately benefits consumers. That said, there will be a lot of people out of work as a result of these changes, and we need to figure out how to deal with that reality.