Technology When Humanity
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Wherever you go these days, there is talk of replacing the automation of people. Technology is surely advancing at a rapid pace, and in today's media environment, sensationalism is sold, but just because technology can replace a human worker does not mean that we will ever want that. In some cases, even when technology can do the right job, we still want to deal with a person.
While a machine can perform a given task, often more efficiently than we can, what it lacks is art in activity, that exclusively human capacity to cater to the needs of the individual. The protocol may suggest a focus, but a person who is good at his job understands when to adjust and the subtleties that are required.
The Obama administration's recent report on the potential economic impact of artificial intelligence and automation examined the issue at least in part through a policy prism. "If AI leads to unemployment and increasing long-term inequality depends not only on the technology itself, but also on the institutions and policies that are in place," the report said. He continued to set the percentage of jobs affected by automation in the next 10-20 years somewhere somewhere between 9 and 47 percent, a wide range that suggests that the real impact will not be known for some time.
Many people involved in the startup ecosystem believe that we will always push the technology to its fullest extent simply because we can do so, but not everyone agrees that it is a desirable approach. The New York Times reported on a McKinsey study last week, which found that while automation is growing, it may not be the pace we've been led to believe. "Automation affects employment will not simply be decided by what is technically feasible, which is what technologists tend to focus on," said James Manyika of McKinsey to the Times.
Ultimately, there will be many factors involved in the impact of automation, including our desire to interact with our human partners. Consider the ATM as a prime example. Developed in the 1960s and popularized in the 70s and 80s, it probably replaced some human cashiers, but it is 2017 and most banks still have ATMs. Yes, you can get money when and where you want, even when the bank is not open. Heck, you can bank on your phone, but when you walk into the bank, there are still people working there because, when it comes to our money, sometimes we still want to talk to a trained professional.
Certainly, when it comes to medicine, we're going to want to keep dealing with highly educated people, even when there are machines that help our doctors arrive with the proper diagnosis and treatment. Even if a machine could determine an appropriate plan - and as we know there are few absolutes in medicine - we still want to work with a physician, who has been trained to talk to us through the options and administer the treatment protocol - and who understands that Art in science.
People keep importing. And that's an important point to keep in mind. Even in scenarios that do not involve advanced education like doctors, it does not mean that we as human beings do not want to interact with people instead of machines.
For example, technology exists to replace waiters with an iPad menu. A San Francisco restaurant has brought people out of the equation altogether. After placing your order on the iPad, your food comes out of a small cubbie - no brokers or any human contact required - but not everyone will want this kind of experience. Some people like to be welcomed by a person, who not only takes the order but also answers questions about the menu and brings them their food.
The same goes for Uber or Lyft. Clearly, cars without drivers are a growing reality, and car services want to go that route because it is cheaper for them, but it does not mean that all consumers will enjoy a ride without a driver. Some like the experience of talking to drivers. It is more than simply getting from point A to point B (or enriching car services).
It's not about being a Luddite. Technology advances incessantly, and it would be foolish to argue otherwise, but some things remain fundamental and communication between people will continue to be one of them. Just because technology is available does not mean that it will always be the best choice in every situation.
While a machine can perform a given task, often more efficiently than we can, what it lacks is art in activity, that exclusively human capacity to cater to the needs of the individual. The protocol may suggest a focus, but a person who is good at his job understands when to adjust and the subtleties that are required.
The Obama administration's recent report on the potential economic impact of artificial intelligence and automation examined the issue at least in part through a policy prism. "If AI leads to unemployment and increasing long-term inequality depends not only on the technology itself, but also on the institutions and policies that are in place," the report said. He continued to set the percentage of jobs affected by automation in the next 10-20 years somewhere somewhere between 9 and 47 percent, a wide range that suggests that the real impact will not be known for some time.
Many people involved in the startup ecosystem believe that we will always push the technology to its fullest extent simply because we can do so, but not everyone agrees that it is a desirable approach. The New York Times reported on a McKinsey study last week, which found that while automation is growing, it may not be the pace we've been led to believe. "Automation affects employment will not simply be decided by what is technically feasible, which is what technologists tend to focus on," said James Manyika of McKinsey to the Times.
Ultimately, there will be many factors involved in the impact of automation, including our desire to interact with our human partners. Consider the ATM as a prime example. Developed in the 1960s and popularized in the 70s and 80s, it probably replaced some human cashiers, but it is 2017 and most banks still have ATMs. Yes, you can get money when and where you want, even when the bank is not open. Heck, you can bank on your phone, but when you walk into the bank, there are still people working there because, when it comes to our money, sometimes we still want to talk to a trained professional.
Certainly, when it comes to medicine, we're going to want to keep dealing with highly educated people, even when there are machines that help our doctors arrive with the proper diagnosis and treatment. Even if a machine could determine an appropriate plan - and as we know there are few absolutes in medicine - we still want to work with a physician, who has been trained to talk to us through the options and administer the treatment protocol - and who understands that Art in science.
People keep importing. And that's an important point to keep in mind. Even in scenarios that do not involve advanced education like doctors, it does not mean that we as human beings do not want to interact with people instead of machines.
For example, technology exists to replace waiters with an iPad menu. A San Francisco restaurant has brought people out of the equation altogether. After placing your order on the iPad, your food comes out of a small cubbie - no brokers or any human contact required - but not everyone will want this kind of experience. Some people like to be welcomed by a person, who not only takes the order but also answers questions about the menu and brings them their food.
The same goes for Uber or Lyft. Clearly, cars without drivers are a growing reality, and car services want to go that route because it is cheaper for them, but it does not mean that all consumers will enjoy a ride without a driver. Some like the experience of talking to drivers. It is more than simply getting from point A to point B (or enriching car services).
It's not about being a Luddite. Technology advances incessantly, and it would be foolish to argue otherwise, but some things remain fundamental and communication between people will continue to be one of them. Just because technology is available does not mean that it will always be the best choice in every situation.
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