This is a wake-up call for the world because robots could make their presence felt in areas dominated by Humans, and render millions of them jobless by 2030. The only option for them would be to acquire new skills or else perish.
New Zealand Herald reports that these are the findings of a consultancy firm who see it as a fallout of companies switching over to new technologies. The study believes that the requirement for workers will remain. However, the nature of job would change because machines would become more intelligent, and workers will have to be equally skilled to handle such machines.
War between humans and robots
According to Michael Chui, a partner at the McKinsey Global Institute, nearly 375 million people, or 14 percent of all workers, would be affected by the induction of robots in various spheres. The impact may not be felt by managers and teachers since they have to interact with other humans but would be felt by those who are engaged in routine jobs like accountants. They could find their careers at risk. Obviously, such workers would have to upgrade their knowledge or learn new skills.
An example is the healthcare sector that could gain prominence. The aging population would require people with skills in healthcare, and the employment prospects in this field could be bright.
The technological arena is continuously evolving, and changes are common. During the advent of computers, there were fears of large-scale unemployment but, facts proved otherwise. There was no major shift noticed because computers created new employment opportunities like call centers to compensate for the loss of jobs.
The study has looked at the bright side too.
As incomes increase, the spending pattern of the consumer changes and opens up new possibilities. The result is the creation of more jobs in new areas.
Robots would be prominent players
Automation is the buzzword of the future, and robots would be important players. They are used extensively in activities associated with space exploration and will gain importance as man plans to colonize the Moon, Mars and other planets.
Curiosity is a robot that belongs to NASA. It has been rendering yeomen service for more than five years on the Red Planet and is engaged in work that is beyond the scope of humans.
The robot is an example of the practical application of artificial intelligence, and workers must arm themselves with new skills to remain in contention, because robots are here to stay, and cannot be wished away.
