This glimpse of the future was
crafted by: Mike
Pinkerton
crafted by: Mike
Pinkerton
Ask a
five-year-old what they want to be when they grow up. Chances are: ‘machine
learning specialist’ will not rise to the top of the list. For decades,
our show and tells have been catwalks for classic capitalism,
where mini pilots and policemen strut their oversized uniforms for kindergarten
audiences. We’re very comfortable with our kids wanting a career as a doctor or
a lawyer when they grow up; we may even entertain the idea of builder or architect for
some years. But, at the end of the day, when varsity fees are all paid up,
we’re still pulling our old-school paradigms, like a hood, over our eyes and
expecting our kids to have the same jobs that we’ve had.
five-year-old what they want to be when they grow up. Chances are: ‘machine
learning specialist’ will not rise to the top of the list. For decades,
our show and tells have been catwalks for classic capitalism,
where mini pilots and policemen strut their oversized uniforms for kindergarten
audiences. We’re very comfortable with our kids wanting a career as a doctor or
a lawyer when they grow up; we may even entertain the idea of builder or architect for
some years. But, at the end of the day, when varsity fees are all paid up,
we’re still pulling our old-school paradigms, like a hood, over our eyes and
expecting our kids to have the same jobs that we’ve had.
Here’s some
news for you, Mom and Dad. Little Joanne may have to change her career path.
news for you, Mom and Dad. Little Joanne may have to change her career path.
The digital age is accelerating at
a magnificent rate and rewriting business as we know it .
It’s not hard to be daunted by it all ‒ especially if your job is all about
replicating a task at hand. Somewhere in a back room in Hyderabad, we’ve all
been warned, hundreds of over-caffeinated techies are working around the clock
to empower technology to outwit, and eventually replace, our human faculties.
a magnificent rate and rewriting business as we know it .
It’s not hard to be daunted by it all ‒ especially if your job is all about
replicating a task at hand. Somewhere in a back room in Hyderabad, we’ve all
been warned, hundreds of over-caffeinated techies are working around the clock
to empower technology to outwit, and eventually replace, our human faculties.
Going, going,
almost gone are the jobs we esteemed the stuff of
heroes. But, if robots will soon be putting out fires and transplanting hearts
better than people, we’ve got to ask, what on earth should we be doing?
If being a hero is about helping others, who will be the future’s new heroes?
almost gone are the jobs we esteemed the stuff of
heroes. But, if robots will soon be putting out fires and transplanting hearts
better than people, we’ve got to ask, what on earth should we be doing?
If being a hero is about helping others, who will be the future’s new heroes?
”Is it a
bird, is it a plane? No, it’s tomorrow’s Super Sense Maker!”
bird, is it a plane? No, it’s tomorrow’s Super Sense Maker!”
Sense makers are the problem
solvers of the business world ‒
the creatives and critics who are not afraid to try and fail at offering brave
new solutions. They could be artists, consultants, design thinkers ‒ builders
of our digital world.
Sense makers are loaded with filters to sift through the ever increasing volume
of information so that a story, deeply human, keeps rising to the fore.
solvers of the business world ‒
the creatives and critics who are not afraid to try and fail at offering brave
new solutions. They could be artists, consultants, design thinkers ‒ builders
of our digital world.
Sense makers are loaded with filters to sift through the ever increasing volume
of information so that a story, deeply human, keeps rising to the fore.
More than
just getting a job, our message needs to be what do you
think and how will you make sense of it all?
just getting a job, our message needs to be what do you
think and how will you make sense of it all?
Humans still
do human better
do human better
The ability
to listen and engage, to mobilise a common vision, and to springboard instinct
into action is deeply intuitive and deeply human. That’s because it’s not so
much about mastering tech as it is about working with people. And, according to
McKinsey in their 2016 Quarterly Report,
these are the kind of jobs that won’t go out of style, even when the robots
come to town. Activities that involve managing and developing people make up
the lowest category of vulnerability (at 9% automation potential), while
knowledge work that involves decision making, planning, or creativity comes in
at 18%. This kind of creative work could be anything from project consulting to
dreaming up menus for the new vegan restaurant in town.
to listen and engage, to mobilise a common vision, and to springboard instinct
into action is deeply intuitive and deeply human. That’s because it’s not so
much about mastering tech as it is about working with people. And, according to
McKinsey in their 2016 Quarterly Report,
these are the kind of jobs that won’t go out of style, even when the robots
come to town. Activities that involve managing and developing people make up
the lowest category of vulnerability (at 9% automation potential), while
knowledge work that involves decision making, planning, or creativity comes in
at 18%. This kind of creative work could be anything from project consulting to
dreaming up menus for the new vegan restaurant in town.
So, although
computers win out when it comes to executing very well-defined activities, the
fact is humans are still better at being human. They drive original processes
with perceptivity, intuition and occasional bursts of genius. The power of the human imagination
is still a force to be reckoned with , because it
synthesises simultaneous and highly complex levels of human processing into one
neurological response. Emotion, reason and adaptability, instinct and
discernment, have a role to play in influencing extraordinarily unique outcomes
in ways that computers still fail to do.
computers win out when it comes to executing very well-defined activities, the
fact is humans are still better at being human. They drive original processes
with perceptivity, intuition and occasional bursts of genius. The power of the human imagination
is still a force to be reckoned with , because it
synthesises simultaneous and highly complex levels of human processing into one
neurological response. Emotion, reason and adaptability, instinct and
discernment, have a role to play in influencing extraordinarily unique outcomes
in ways that computers still fail to do.
The new job
gap
gap
“Don’t
believe the hype,” says Forrester Consulting, in their 2016 report on The
Future of White-Collar Work: Sharing Your Cubicle with Robots, “Google
AlphaGo’s gaming successes and IBM Watson will not usher in a dystopian triumph
of machines over humans.” Instead, they suggest, it will be more a case of
kumbaya between man and machine. Although the report predicts 16% of US jobs
will be replaced, it also says we’re going to invent 9% new jobs to make sense
of all these new digital tools.
believe the hype,” says Forrester Consulting, in their 2016 report on The
Future of White-Collar Work: Sharing Your Cubicle with Robots, “Google
AlphaGo’s gaming successes and IBM Watson will not usher in a dystopian triumph
of machines over humans.” Instead, they suggest, it will be more a case of
kumbaya between man and machine. Although the report predicts 16% of US jobs
will be replaced, it also says we’re going to invent 9% new jobs to make sense
of all these new digital tools.
In fact, by
2025, a batch of 8.9 million new jobs is predicted to be served up in the US
alone: jobs like data scientists, automation specialists, and content
curators. Consultants will
especially be needed to unpack this new paradigm and bridge digital divides in
the workplace: such a pivotal role that consultancy is expected to grow 10% by
2025.
2025, a batch of 8.9 million new jobs is predicted to be served up in the US
alone: jobs like data scientists, automation specialists, and content
curators. Consultants will
especially be needed to unpack this new paradigm and bridge digital divides in
the workplace: such a pivotal role that consultancy is expected to grow 10% by
2025.
The power of
human connections
human connections
While
computer programming may become a bad career choice for the future (should a joint initiative between
Microsoft and Cambridge University successfully manage to
teach computers how to write their own code), there is good news for the sense
makers amongst them. Knowing which robot to use, which digital platform to apply
among the many will be critical as technology sophisticates. Or knowing which
drone and which spatial data technology to choose among the breathtaking range
of digital recreations.
computer programming may become a bad career choice for the future (should a joint initiative between
Microsoft and Cambridge University successfully manage to
teach computers how to write their own code), there is good news for the sense
makers amongst them. Knowing which robot to use, which digital platform to apply
among the many will be critical as technology sophisticates. Or knowing which
drone and which spatial data technology to choose among the breathtaking range
of digital recreations.
No longer in
the back rooms, consultants, project managers, and even artists will be needed
to blend the machine coded elements on the master canvas in order to solve the
client’s problem logically and in a way that ‘feels right’.
the back rooms, consultants, project managers, and even artists will be needed
to blend the machine coded elements on the master canvas in order to solve the
client’s problem logically and in a way that ‘feels right’.
Expert advisory isn’t just about
mastering the technology ; it’s about
being able to eyeball your clients, ask questions, understand their needs and
build trust over time. Who knows? Maybe in time robots will give Dr. Phil a run
for his money. But for now, we can breathe a sigh of relief. Those who master a mix of problem
solving, emotional intelligence and creativity will stay in the game .
mastering the technology ; it’s about
being able to eyeball your clients, ask questions, understand their needs and
build trust over time. Who knows? Maybe in time robots will give Dr. Phil a run
for his money. But for now, we can breathe a sigh of relief. Those who master a mix of problem
solving, emotional intelligence and creativity will stay in the game .
As opposed to
6-figure stability, agility is now the coveted mark of a successful
leader. Tomorrow’s story will be steered by
those who are willing to see the gaps . It’s time we open
up our show and tell catwalks and strut some deep learning.
6-figure stability, agility is now the coveted mark of a successful
leader. Tomorrow’s story will be steered by
those who are willing to see the gaps . It’s time we open
up our show and tell catwalks and strut some deep learning.
Aurecon’s award-winning
blog, Just
Imagine provides a glimpse into the future for curious
readers, exploring ideas that are probable, possible and for the imagination.
This post originally appeared on Aurecon’s Just
Imagine blog.
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