There’s been a lot of anxiety among workers in the face of recent advances in automation and especially artificial intelligence (AI). The optimistic view of these technologies is that they have the potential to free workers from the tedious aspects of their work to focus on more meaningful, strategic priorities.
The pessimistic view—among workers—is that AI is likely to render them obsolete and out of jobs.
AI Poised to Replace Low-Skill Jobs
Much of this anxiety is concentrated among workers in low-skill positions, seen as low-hanging fruit for automation. That anxiety is not unfounded. There are many examples of such positions being rendered largely obsolete by new technology.
Consider, for example, the impact of automated phone systems and chat bots on human customer service representatives, or the impact of grocery store self-checkouts on grocery employees.
Are Higher-Level Skills Also at Risk of AI Replacement?
While workers with low-skill positions may have found themselves the victims of the cutting edge of new technologies, recent developments suggest that risk also extends to highly trained and specialized human workers.
In particular, the healthcare industry has found a number of uses of AI and automation to make certain tasks more efficient while also reducing errors and increasing the consistency of outcomes.
“Advancements in generative AI could allow robots to assist surgeons with tasks that require a high degree of dexterity, such as suturing. This ‘Augmented Dexterity’ model would involve a human surgeon closely monitoring the robot’s actions and stepping in when necessary,” notes HospiMedica.
HospiMedica staff explain that, using an “augmented dexterity framework,” robots could create digital representations of surgical images onto patients. Humans would review the robots’ efforts before approving the plan and allowing them to proceed. The value of robotic assistance lies in minimizing variation, especially in high-risk situations “like suturing and debridement, where variability in surgeon skill can lead to critical errors.” In addition, robotic assistance provides the ability to conduct surgeries remotely, enhancing opportunities for telesurgery to serve more patients, especially those in rural and underserved areas.
Could Surgeons Be Replaced Entirely?
While this initial use case still involves a human surgeon in a supervisory role, it’s easy to imagine a not-too-distant future in which robots could replace the human surgeon entirely. This potential scenario highlights an important reality when it comes to labor-saving technologies.
While the initial applications for advanced technologies may focus on the low-hanging fruit of low-skill positions, more significant financial benefits may actually come from displacing more costly labor. Imagine the cost-savings of automating the work of a heart surgeon making hundreds of thousands of dollars per year versus the work of a grocery store cashier making minimum wage.
The takeaway for businesses of all kinds: don’t minimize the potential for AI to be far more disruptive than we may currently imagine. Staying on top of trends and applications is essential for ensuring the reskilling and upskilling required to help professionals of all kinds remain relevant.
Lin Grensing-Pophal is a Contributing Editor at HR Daily Advisor.