The Myth of AI Replacing Human Workers: Should We Really Worry?
“Aren’t robots trying to take our jobs?” The question has plagued workers since day one of the AI era. But before we start to envision some grim future in which human beings have no place, let’s take one step back. In reality, AI and humans offer strengths that are completely different. What if, instead of fighting it out, we could just combine forces? In the future, work will no longer be about competing; it will be about collaboration-where Human Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence come together to create something far more powerful: Augmented Intelligence.
Image Source: https://www.augmentir.com/glossary/what-is-augmented-intelligence
The Power of Data and AI’s Part to Play within the Economy
We are living in times when data has become the new oil, and AI is the refinery. If expert opinion is anything to go by, then by 2030, AI could pump as much as $15.7 trillion into the global economy. That is no chump change. In what appears to be a fear that these smart systems are going to push humans completely outside the workforce, leaving us with either lowly paid jobs or none whatsoever, the mad dash for the adoption of AI seems on. It’s already happening in manufacturing, finance, and even recruitment-AI stepping in, and the human workers being moved out.
But is this the endgame? Will our workforce be unrecognizable by 2040, as some predict? Or is there another narrative at play?
A Brief History of Outsourcing to Machines: From the Industrial Revolution to AI
Just think back to the Industrial Revolution: machines took all the backbreaking, repetitive work from human beings. It wasn’t the end of work but the transformation of it. What AI does today was only done back then; this time, though, it would not stop at outsourcing physical work. Machines can solve complicated mathematical problem sets, understand languages, and even write. It would almost feel as though we were at the threshold of our minds being outsourced to technology.
But herein lies the catch-AI is smart, but it is not human, and that’s where the difference lies.
Machine Intelligence vs. Human Intelligence: What’s the Difference?
Now, let’s break it down. We call computers “intelligent” because they can learn patterns from and make decisions based on data. Sound smart? But it differs from human intelligence. Simply speaking, AI is all about imitation: following rules, making decisions, and learning patterns. Brilliant for repetitive and rule-based tasks requiring consistency and accuracy, say, like an assembly line that AI can work on and never get tired or cranky or distracted.
But humans? Unpredictable. We imagine, anticipate, feel and judge. We don’t need any feed-in data to form decisions; our intuition, feelings, and experiences do the trick. It is what makes us unique. This is what we call Authentic Intelligence– a kind of intelligence whereby machines can just imitate in very tiny ways.
Why Authentic Intelligence Matters in an Open System
Let me try with closed versus open systems. An example of a closed system would be an assembly line. The environment is controlled, and the rules are clear. This is where AI really shines because there are no surprises, just the same mundane tasks over and over again that have to be completed with efficiency. For example, Amazon uses algorithms to direct human workers on the assembly line. AI directing efficiency? Sure, it works.
But sometimes, life is not a closed system. In an open system, everything gets messy: things from the outside intrude in, and sudden changes and challenges appear. It’s not about efficiency here; rather, it is adaptability. And that’s where humans shine because we can deal with ambiguity, think creatively, and make decisions based on more than numbers and performance metrics.
Rise of Augmented Intelligence: Humans and Machines Working in Harmony
Now, to the future where Augmented Intelligence plays a large part. What is that? It is that sweet spot where the computational powers of AI meet the creative judgment of humans. Both will come together to form a powerhouse of productivity and innovation.Â
Think of Garry Kasparov, the chess grandmaster who lost that infamous battle to IBM’s Deep Blue back in 1997. Instead of enemy number one, Kasparov recognized an opportunity. Linked with a computer in what became known as “advanced chess,” Kasparov was free to develop high-level strategies while the machine did the grunt calculation. The result? A more dynamic, strategic game than either human or machine could play alone. The collaboration did it.
What Chess Taught Us About AI Collaboration
In 2005, the online chess game Playchess.com held a freestyle chess tournament where entrants could have teams composed of both humans and computers. The obvious thing would be for a supercomputer paired with a grandmaster to win; this was not the case. Two amateur Americans working with three computers took the title. Surprisingly, their victory had more to do with how to work with the computers than just having powerful machines.Â
That brings us to another key revelation: With or without AI, the secrets of successful collaboration lie not with raw talent issues but rather with how humans work with and leverage each other toward more powerful outcomes.
Augmented Intelligence in Action: Building the Future of Work
What comes next, then? It is not just about replacement by AI but rather the making of teams that will merge the best of both worlds. An example would be human-machine teams working together. With this comes new “diversity” and new challenges, such as overcoming biases to learn to trust your nonhuman colleagues. It will present opportunities for leaders to shine in the coordination and coaching of these diverse teams.
The Key to Success: Unleashing the New Diversity
As AI is becoming ever more integral to the work environment, leaders will be compelled to change. One thing is for sure: it’s not about the people management anymore; it’s about managing the processes around humans and machines. Only leaders who are able to move in this new landscape, who bring human capabilities and artificial intelligence together in a good way, lead their organizations toward success.
The Human Factor in AI Times
That would be an interesting subject for a science fiction novel, but it’s quite removed from the reality that we’re working toward. Instead, the future of work is Augmented Intelligence: AI enhancing our capabilities, not replacing them.Â
That is not about efficiency; that is about how we make a future in which technology works in the service and interest of humankind to make life and work worth living.