AS INDUSTRY EMBRACES the advantages
of artificial intelligence, human workers
fear being displaced by robots. But many
more jobs will be filled by humans and
machines working together in "the missing
middle," according to the authors of
a report from Accenture and the Aspen
Institute's Business & Society Program.
"We are leaving the 'Information
Era,' when machines delivered data that
improved processes and
products, and entering the 'Experience Era,' during which uniquely human skills will deliver more personalized and adaptive customer experiences," they write.
Researchers analyzed
data from the U.S.
Department of Labor to trace the evolution of more than 100
abilities and working styles over the past
decade. They found that "more than half
ofU.S.jobs need higher-level creativity,
over 45 percent require more complex
reasoning, and 35 percent need more
socio-emotional skills than in the past."
The report predicts that, in the AI -enabled
workplace, more emphasis will be
put on ten types of intelligence: physical,
cognitive, strategic,
practical, analytical, creative, interpersonal,
intra personal, moral, and
growth-oriented.
But workplaces aren't
ready to implement the
new intelligences or the
human-machine interface.
Business leaders
believe that only about
a quarter of their workers are prepared
to work with AI and machines, although
more than two-thirds of surveyed workers
say they recognize the importance of
developing their own skills in this area.
In fact, these workers feel companies
should do more to help them get ready:
37 percent say their biggest obstacle is
lack of sponsorship from the company,
and 36 percent point to lack of resources.
To prepare for the Experience Era,
the report emphasizes, educators and
learners must rely on scientific techniques
and smart technologies designed
to help workers learn faster and tap
latent intelligences more effectively.
Read more about the report.