Boy have times changed. When I was a kid I had a Walkman, a cell phone, a Gameboy, and a camera. Now a typical teenager can listen to their music, play video games, text their friends, and send pictures via Snapchat all on a single device.  This is just an example of one of the many technological advances that society has welcomed within the past decade.  The majority of the population uses these advances in their lives every day. What we have not prepared for is the assumption that these technologies will replace our jobs in the future.  According to the attached article, within 20 years, half of all jobs will be taken over by machines. There is continuous growth of computing and storage capacity, as software also gets more powerful. We are in the middle of a technological transition of jobs, and there is little time to control this transition.

There are many ways that companies are now using technology to replace existing techniques in the workplace.  For example, modern automotive plants regularly use machines that autonomously weld and paint body parts—tasks that were once handled by humans. As we worry that technology may hinder us from succeeding at our jobs, there are ways that technology can help our work lives. For starters, robots can save us from physically exhausting or demanding work, and can enhance efficiency.  When we perform tasks by hand, we increase the likelihood of human error and wasted time.  Computers also allow for faster processing of data and easier retrieval of information. However, technological processes are based on factual decision making, when in reality, not all choices are based solely upon facts.

One thing machines cannot and will not be able to emulate is the unique perspective of the individual. All of us can offer irreplaceable insights into performance techniques. This kind of information is invaluable and ever changing. In a statement made by Jeffrey Heer, “Human judgment is at the center of successful data analysis.” Meaning, machines can provide data for companies based on algorithms humans have created, however, machines cannot successfully establish the significance of these results. Do you believe that we should be concerned our jobs will be replaced with technology in the future? Comment below with your thoughts!