Predictions of automation eliminating jobs are as old as machines. Sometimes these predictions get it right (good luck finding a stagecoach driver or a bowling alley pinsetter) and sometimes the forecasts are a little exaggerated (humans still have jobs). We’re starting to move away from the idea that machines will eliminate workers, and instead view machines as aids for human workers. Still, some tasks may be left to the machines. Here are a few types of work that the Forbes Technology Council thinks we can automate in the next decade.
Reminders, Notifications, And Reporting
Our phones can take care of most of our daily reminders and notifications already. It seems reasonable to automate data analysis and reporting, too.
Healthcare Tasks
While robot-assisted surgery is increasingly common, we shouldn’t expect automated surgeries any time soon; that still requires a human touch. However, things like cancer detection and medical imaging analysis are already benefiting from artificial intelligence.
App Development
Technology is becoming more accessible to those without coding skills. One expert predicts that people will be able to develop apps without the ability to code.
Translation
Translation software is widely available today, and it’s already pretty good. Automated translating will be more capable and more versatile than a human translator.
Maintenance
If you work in manufacturing you know the importance of maintenance. However, technology will enable maintenance to shift from a reactive, “if it’s not broke don’t fix it”, mentality to predictive and preventative.
Reception
Why pay someone to sit at a desk and check people in when we can already do it through our phones or kiosks?
Entry-level Sales
Some products sell themselves. Targeted advertising puts the products that don’t sell themselves in front of people who will buy them anyway. Entry-level sales tasks, such as lead prospecting qualification and engagement, may soon be automated.
Customer Service
We see quite a bit of automation in customer service already. Maybe you’ve personally shared your complaint with a chatbot or voiced a concern to an answering machine.
Construction
“We’ll just make a virtual model of the building, feed it to the construction bots and they’ll build it. No more construction casualties.”
Writing
Artificial intelligence is getting better and better at replicating human language. In fact, you may have read an article or news report that was automated rather than written by an actual human without even noticing.
Jobs with Repeatable Processes
This is automation’s bread and butter: do things over and over without variation. This includes things like transportation, customer service, and manufacturing.
Telemarketing and Manual IT
Telemarketing is already highly automated; this is why people don’t answer their phones anymore.
Software Management
Marketing and sales ops will be left to the machines, which frees humans up to do strategic thinking.
Rules-based Repetitive Tasks
This is another obvious one; machines excel at carrying out repetitive tasks.
Will these predictions about automation’s effect on employment come true? While we can see that some of these tasks already being automated, only time will tell just how much of an impact automation will have. Why not tune up your factory machines while you wait? Call 479-422-0390 for repair, service, and maintenance for Indramat industrial motion control systems.