Should workers fear the use of AI?

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In the near future, entertainment-wise, we all may have less new shows and movies to watch, whether we view them via streaming channels, cable channels, network television or in movie theatres because members of the Actors Guild of America went on strike in July. One of the touch points is entertainment companies’ increasing use of artificial intelligence (to capture actors’ likenesses without fairly compensating them). 

So, are workers afraid for their jobs? Apparently not. It seems people – that is, those not in the entertainment industry – are not convinced that artificial intelligence (AI) is going to replace them in the workplace. 

Despite all of the recent debate around the rapidly increasing abilities and use of AI, a new survey by digital identity security specialists, ID Crypt Global, reveals that more than 80% of people have no concern that the technology is going to replace them in the workplace. 

The UK-based survey of approximately 1200 office workers revealed that: 

  • When asked whether the use of AI in the workplace is a positive step, opinion is split with 45% saying ‘yes’ and 55% responding ‘no’. 
  • When asked whether they believe AI will one day make their job role obsolete, 81% said ‘no’. 
  • 94% stated that they are doing nothing to prepare for the eventuality of AI replacing them in the workplace, such as learning new skills or looking for new industries to work in. 
  • If, however, the time does come when lots of people are losing their jobs to AI, 52% believe that their employer and the government share responsibility for re-training them to take on new jobs that AI has not disrupted. 
  • 18% say the responsibility should lie only with employers; 16% say it’s the job of government; and 14% say it’s up to each individual to ensure they are future-proofing themselves against the rise of technology. 

The survey found that overall, opinion is mixed as to whether artificial intelligence is ultimately a good or bad thing for society. When asked whether they believe it’s going to do more harm or good, 47% fall on the side of ‘harm’, 36% say it will be a benefit, and 17% remain unsure either way.  

“It’s worrying that so many people remain unconvinced that AI is going to disrupt their lives. At this point, it’s clear that AI is going to become a dominant force in society, not least in the workplace,” said CEO and founder of ID Crypt Global, Lauren Wilson-Smith. “There are certain jobs that AI is going to be able to execute to a far higher level than any human can and do it in a much faster and cheaper way.” 

However, the use of AI and automation (including robots and cobots) has been occurring within manufacturing for many years and rapidly accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic within the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry (as well as other industries of course) due to labour shortages. 

I noted in a previous blog that widespread disruption to production lines during the pandemic and subsequent disruption to supply chains together with labour shortages are driving CPG companies to adopt automated solutions. PMMI’s (The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies) 2022 report, The Future of Automation in Packaging and Processing, highlights how CPGs are looking to enhance and optimise their production, storage, and distribution processes using automated solutions including automated guided vehicles, industrial robots, collaborative robots (aka ‘cobots’), and mobile robots, with some of these technologies being supported by AI and advanced vision tools. 

The report revealed that e-commerce is fueling the automation trend. Furthermore, 60% of companies [in the report] said that labour shortages are extremely impactful on their packaging and processing operations, pushing CPGs toward automation, and increasing the importance of developing a skilled workforce. 

“The labour shortage is a significant problem, so the question is how to use technology to compensate for a reduced workforce,” said Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, market development, PMMI, during a conversation at the 2022 Pack Expo International. “The challenge [for equipment manufacturers] is to provide machinery that can be operated by fewer people [often one person] but that also maintains high speeds and volume.” The key, he added, is making training accessible and employee retention. 

AI, automation and robotics reduce the reliance on personnel and accommodate less skilled workers and help to decrease the amount of monotonous and less rewarding work that must be done manually. So, whether we like it or not, AI and automation (including robots and cobots) are necessary in today’s world, maybe not yet in the office, but definitely in manufacturing, and their use will not abate any time soon, rather their use will expand. 

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