THE FUTURE OF WORK EDITORIAL
THE FUTURE OF WORK STEPHEN TIMM INVESTIGATES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE − AND ITS POSSIBLE IMPACT ON JOB SECURITY
A concerning debate is growing over jobs and the effect that
losses: they are definitely going to happen. He admits that AI
artificial intelligence (AI) will have on the world of work. A 2016
– because it amounts to intelligent automation – will eliminate
study by Cape IT Initiative (CITi) and the Oxford Martin School at the
some jobs.
University of Oxford estimates that AI could result in the loss of as many as two-thirds of jobs in South Africa. A more recent estimate
However, he points out that in some cases it has also helped
from Accenture, in January 2018, puts the figure closer to 35%.
assist workers with better information. Despite this, he says that there is the desire in manufacturing to further automate
Frans Cronje, co-founder of machine learning specialist
processes to the point that plants are run by just a handful
company DataProphet, is pretty frank when it comes to job
of operators.
TOP500 10th Edition 41
