As Melanie Cook stated at SXSW 2017 on Augmented AI:
“We have a 30 years window to design AI to augment humans. “
I was reminded of it while listening McKinsey’s podcast How to win in the age of analytics – https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-analytics/our-insights/how-to-win-in-the-age-of-analytics
About machine learning (around 24′):
“It will actually take quite some time for the activities we currently pay people to do in the economy to be completely automated. So there’s time to adapt as we adopt. […] While we have time to adapt as we adopt, it doesn’t look likely that we’ll actually have a surplus of labor. “
In a16z Podcast: Automation, Jobs, & the Future of Work (and Income), Tom Davenport and Julia Kirby, authors of Only Humans Need Apply: Winners and Losers in the Age of Smart Machines, argue that AI is about AI augmentation not automation as AI won’t take over 100% of a job but part of it. They give examples of interaction with AI “coworkers” could be around: Step up, step in, step forward OR step outside to focus on what makes us human eg humour, empathy…
“It takes a human to understand a human”
This is now backed by “The Future of Jobs” from World Economic Forum (WEF): AI & automation will create more jobs than they replace. The report highlights a “urgent need” for governments “supporting an ecosystem of lifelong learners.” https://www.fastcompany.com/90237950/4-sobering-predictions-about-the-future-of-jobs-in-an-automated-world
This makes Singapore’s second-skilling initiative (ie. developing your skills for a new job while you’re still working) even more important. More here Could Singapore hold the secret to preparing workers for an uncertain future? https://ideas.ted.com/could-singapore-hold-the-secret-to-preparing-workers-for-an-uncertain-future/
Tim Leberecht’s advice might also help:
the great opportunity ahead will be to understand losing as essential to the human condition: “I lose therefore I am.”
Virginie Pontruché 