Job crisis in 'Age of AI'

By Dan Kim

Although your job does not equal your whole identity, your work indubitably fills a large part of your life. And in today's digital age, many people get their work done every day through their computers. Moreover, in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 driven social-distancing, the demand for computers is going through the roof, so much so that now global automakers are suffering from a dearth of semiconductor supply.

Interestingly, computers were originally people who made calculations for big institutes such as NASA, the American space agency. Sadly, they were mercilessly and swiftly laid off right after the advent of quicker and more precise machine computers in the 1960s, which was well-illustrated in the 2016 film “Hidden Figures.”

Ever since, the trend of machines taking over people's work has been getting faster and broader, particularly in the present day with the “help” of AI (artificial intelligence). By some predictions, almost half of the world's current jobs could be automated within a generation.

To get a better grasp on what's going on, let's take a look at three occupations that are at high risk of being eliminated by “smart machines” in the not too distant future.

First, translators. Translators have long been played the crucial role of bringing people together from all over the world. Still, they are not immune to the AI invasion. There have been a slew of enterprises trying to develop algorithms that can overtake humans in translating. And day by day, they are getting closer to that goal as new AI technologies threaten their human counterparts' livelihoods. Neural machine translation (NMT) is one of the leading candidates in the race.

Second, lawyers. Despite their dashing appearance, their days look to be numbered. The judicial system in America has been substantially automated in recent years. More than 20 cities and states in the USA are now utilizing AI-based risk assessment tools to help judges decide which defendants to detain before trial. Furthermore, there's the world's first robot lawyer called “DoNotPay” in which you can type in your legal problem and get a legal document for free in under 30 seconds. This AI lawyer has already helped people sue big corporations pro bono.

Last but not least, drivers. Whether they are oblivious to or fairly aware of the upheavals looming large, AI-assisted self-driving cars have been making inroads significantly in recent years. In tandem with the rise of eco-friendly vehicles running on renewable energy, these green driverless cars clearly herald the irrevocable phase-out of both fossil-fuel vehicles and human drivers.

The above-mentioned three cases of AI-equipped machines gradually taking on human jobs are not anomalies. Rather, they clearly showcase a new normal and a new world fast in the making. For better or worse, artificial intelligence now affects all walks of life. Optimists say AI eventually creates more new jobs than it destroys, so it's good for humanity. Pessimists argue back AI transforms the world so fast that it renders most of us obsolete in terms of a labor force, if not in every way.

No matter which side turns out to be correct, AI is here to stay. Thus, top decision-makers in both the public and private sectors must vigilantly monitor every AI-related development and create policies proactively to make the transitions as smooth as possible for both individuals and companies. After all, as a species, we are all in this together.

My name is Dan Kim. I currently work at the Central Police Academy (CPA) located in Chungju city.