There are growing concerns that artificial intelligence and robotics will take more jobs away from people as they are further developed. A study that questioned leaders in information technology says automation could impact 60 percent of businesses by 2022.
Meanwhile, The world’s first 100 percent robotic bar opened in Las Vegas in June.
Till now, most automation related jobs losses are in manufacturing. That is about to change.
Jobs such as cashiers, bank tellers, jobs in industries, food preparations, jobs in office administration supports etc, have a risk of automation and this is going to happen in 10 to 20 years.
It’s already happening in retail stores or people are shopping online.
Forbes Magazine estimates, 21 retailers will shutdown 3500 stores in the US this year. That equals tens of thousands of lost jobs for sales people and support staff.
If it’s happening in the US, then it’s likely to happen here in Ghana as well, since we seem to do very good well in copying from them.
Experts say people without a Universary Degree will loose jobs at the highest rates.
It seems that most workers and policy makers are not ready for the massive economic and social disruption this new wave of automation could bring.
As a society, I don’t think we are prepared and our politician are silent about this issue. We have seen plenty of technological waves, but this time, experts say it’s really different.
No one knows how this seemingly unstoppable wave of automation will play out. But I think that in communities where humans are being replaced by robots, people will definitely suffer from widespread poverty, depression, drug abuse and other social problems.
