From a material perspective, we can understand human history in the light of technological progress. Because these advances determine the wealth of the people. Today, mankind enjoys a situation created by a series of technological revolutions. Throughout history they have appeared in fields such as agriculture, metallurgy and electricity. These revolutions are never instantaneous and usually occur over a long period of gestation. In this sense, artificial intelligence (AI) differs from previous revolutions. Not because there was no gestation period. However, implementation in real life applications is progressing at an accelerated pace. This cannot be compared with the previous rotation speed.

The possibilities offered by AI are increasing and, due to its nature as a general-purpose technology, it can affect nearly every area of ​​life. Despite the great benefits, we need a comprehensive assessment that can weigh the pros and cons so that our society can adapt to this new reality. Derived from AI, we can observe changes in various areas such as trade, personal safety, and government. First, let’s focus on the impact of this technology on the job market.

what we are doing is us

In today’s world, self-development is understood as ideas about what, how, and why to do something. That’s because we tend to associate better jobs with higher pay and personal fulfillment. This allows us to have a better quality of life. However, this could change radically in the coming years as AI enables the replacement of human labor. This affects not only work and work relationships, but also relationships. Researchers are making a number of predictions about the scope and types of jobs that will be affected by AI. Although the measurement techniques are different, the differences in the results help us understand what it means to automate the job. A study by The Future of Employment (2013) found that 47% of all jobs in the US could be automated by 2023. This number seems particularly alarming. However, the focus of this study is work and does not analyze all the work that workers perform in their positions. Still, it’s important to remember that nearly half of the jobs in this country have at least one automated activity. The relevance of the study lies in his birthright, as the later analysis begins there. The AI ​​revolution requires understanding the value of work and focusing on the holistic improvement of individuals.

A subsequent study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that only 9% of jobs in OECD countries could be automated. A subsequent survey by the OECD, taking into account data collected by the International Program for Analysis of Adult Abilities (PIAAC), found that 14% of jobs are highly automatable and 32% of jobs are highly automatable in the 32 countries surveyed. has been shown to be highly automated. 50 Up to 70% chance of automation. But both studies agree that occupations with the lowest educational requirements are at higher risk of being automated. Examples include jobs in agriculture and manufacturing.

In 2017, consulting firm McKinsey conducted a survey of 800 employees in 19 industries in 46 countries. This breadth will allow us to better understand the potential impact of the global adoption of this technology. The study analyzes not only jobs, but jobs as well. This indicates that 49% of his activities can be automated with existing technology. Another interesting point is that most of the activities that can be automated are concentrated in countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru and Kenya. This is not surprising, as these economies are based on agricultural and manufacturing activities.

who will we be

Some may wonder what automation will do to workers. Or what if the work that a new generation can do is done by algorithms? Earlier, I said that personal growth begins with work. This leaves no room for other scenarios in which humanity evolves. Work is sublime because it enables us to survive in this world. However, Immanuel Kant already (250 years ago) pointed out that humans must develop all their human capacities through culture in order to gain freedom (Kant, 2016).

In modern times, we realize that we grow as human beings through work. This happens because material well-being is not the end of our existence, but a prerequisite for human freedom and the attainment of cultural progress and personal development. The revolution that AI will bring to society requires an understanding of the value of work beyond economics and a focus on the holistic improvement of the human being that leads to dignity.

If we are the way we are, AI could give us the space to be more ourselves and more human.

If we said earlier that jobs with higher risk of automation are those that require less skill and perform mechanical tasks, then we must consider the potential for the AI ​​revolution to ultimately benefit workers. . An important counterbalance to the use of human labor is the creation of new kinds of jobs. With this idea in mind, we need to think hard about who we are and what we want our society to be like. We face a unique opportunity to rebuild our work relationships. As mentioned earlier, increased automation of operations does not affect everyone equally. Those most affected will be those who have been unable to find a qualified job due to lack of preparation.

AI and automation give us the opportunity to focus on other activities that contribute to human development. But it has to go beyond the material. When machines and algorithms are mechanical and do the heavy lifting, the people doing the work need to find new solutions that allow them to evolve as individuals. We face a collective existential crisis due to a possible paradigm shift in production. Most importantly, society plays an important role in the overall development of a person. With AI algorithms that perform repetitive and programmable activities, we should be able to differentiate ourselves and progress to skills that only humans can develop. And don’t forget: If we are who we are, AI may give us the space to be more ourselves and more human.