As we look around us, we can see how much technology places an impact in our lives. There are a few jobs that have already been replaced or are starting to be replaced right before us. One of the jobs is a cashier at a grocery store being replaced self check out. I know that at times, especially with the younger generation, there is a preference to check items out independently and avoid social interaction, rather than go to a cashier, and therefore the rise in self checkouts make cause the elimination of the cashier. Another cashier role that could be gone in the next few years, is the cashier at fast food restaurants. There has already been a movement of self checkouts at these establishments as well. Along with these jobs, really anything that involves repetitive motions is up for grabs by some sort of automation technology, because robots are cheaper , faster, and stronger than us. Within the next 10 years, tasks that can be learned will be automated. The focus for most engineers at the moment is advancing the Level of Automation (LOA) across the board to more advanced applications in industry.(Expert Panel, 2019)
I think jobs that are more artistic and creative will not be surrendered to technology. The thing that makes us unique is that everyone is different and therefore we will different food, and music, and I do not believe that technology will be able to deliver a way that will replace human creativity.
The technological advance taking place will eliminate some jobs, but it will also lead to new jobs. A while ago when jobs were taken by factories, new jobs were created to man the factories. Kevin Kelly wrote in his article, Let the robots take the jobs, and let them help us dream up new work that matters.(Kelly, 2018) As technology grows, we will think of new ideas and fill jobs that are needed to grow with technology, which is good for social progress.
As far as the future, I saw the flying cars and the super contact lenses that let you zoom in to something miles away. I see technology from the Black Mirror TV show coming true, but again, humans still have jobs in the future, and are constantly innovating and progressing with the technology they create.
Kelly, K. (2018, August 17). Better Than Human: Why Robots Will – And Must – Take Our Jobs. Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/2012/12/ff-robots-will-take-our-jobs/
Panel, E. (2019, March 1). Tech Experts Predict 13 Jobs That Will Be Automated By 2030. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/03/01/tech-experts-predict-13-jobs-that-will-be-automated-by-2030/
