Page 7 - Issue 4 2023

SOFTWARE, DATA AND SERVICES

The human edge in the age of AI

Zuko Mdwaba, Area Vice President and Country Leader, Salesforce South Africa

t’s a question that comes up more even for highly educated, white-collar
and more: Will the tasks that humans workers in the knowledge economy.
Iperform be replaced by AI or robots?
We know that AI will have a significant The impact of AI on the future
impact on the global job market, of jobs
though the extent to which remains in The assumption that machines will one
flux. Interestingly, surveys show that day “take over” is not a new concern.
most of us think that these disruptive In the course of research for his book
technologies are primarily going to “Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in
affect someone else – someone with a the Age of Automation,” Roose found
skill set or an educational background that for hundreds of years, we’ve been
that lends itself to repeatable work. This predicting what machines can and can’t
is a risky assumption on everyone’s part do - and that usually, we’re wrong.
and certainly not something that will
only impact the anonymous “other”. Below are some examples of predictions Zuko Mdwaba
The robots aren’t coming – they’re that now seem absurd in their naivety.
already here. But it’s not all doom and • “I can state flatly that heavier-than-
gloom. Quite the opposite, in fact. air flying machines are impossible.” you just press the wrong button?”
The age of AI needs to be seen as an - Lord Kelvin, 1895 - travel agency owner quoted in a
opportunity for exploration into how • “There is no prospect whatsoever 1984 New York Times article on the
we can humanise the future of work that the employment of electronic first automated ticket machines at
to complement and even enhance AI, digital computers in the field airports
automation and productivity. of translation will lead to any
According to Kevin Roose, an award- revolutionary changes.” - The disruptive technologies that would
winning New York Times technology Yehoshua Bar-Hillel, 1962 prove each of those predictions wrong
columnist, AI and automation are • “You won’t get the best seating or went on to reshape economies and
already changing the way we work, the best fares … what happens if workforces forever.

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