Category: Automation Impact on Jobs

Bernie Sanders’ plan to reduce the work week will lead to nowhere

Bernie Sanders’ plan to reduce the work week will lead to nowhere

Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed a plan to reduce the US workweek from 40 to 32-hours. Self-described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the “ Thirty-Two Hour Work Week Act ” recently that would mandate the standard workweek be reduced from 40 to 32 hours.

Under the law, employees would not receive a reduction in pay despite the 20% drop in labor. Additionally, employers would be forced to pay overtime at the rate of time and a half for shifts exceeding eight hours per day, and double pay for time more than 12 hours daily. Empty offices such as […]

Understaffed businesses are turning to such innovations as touch-panel order devices, food-serving robots and self-service checkouts, instead of taking on new workers.

Sometimes I go to the Italian chain restaurant Saizeriya.

Hadn’t been for quite a while but was pretty amazed last weekend.

At 4:00pm it was fairly busy.All ordering was done by QR code on smartphone. Helpful explanatory leaflets were available in Japanese and English.All payments were self service at automated registers.It was possible to order in person but that would take time.Aside from the automation the Biggest surprise was – Only 1 young woman was running the floor. Just one. Probably 50+ patrons at that time. Her tasks were ushering people, in clearing tables, delivering dishes and of course helping people […]

Let’s talk automation and sustainability

Automation is a beautiful thing when it’s properly leveraged to improve a company’s process efficiencies, productivity, safety and bottom line.

But that’s only a start.

With rapid recent advances in digitization and A.I. (artificial intelligence), there is a growing awareness that automation can also play an important role in improving the health of our planet through game-changing sustainability strategies and initiatives that can mitigate the adverse impact of global warming and climate change through better resource conservation, waste minimization, energy efficiency, material substitution and other noble goals that will help industrial companies worldwide, including those in the packaging sector, reduce their […]

Decoding the Future of Work: Automation, AI and the Human Edge

Decoding the Future of Work: Automation, AI and the Human Edge

As we near the 25 years of the 21st century, we stand at the precipice of a new era. The rise of automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has ignited a firestorm of debate, with many fearing an age of widespread job displacement. The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation has sparked anticipation and apprehension in equal measure.

While AI platforms and automation tools have been around for some time, their rapid growth since advent of Generative AI have led to fears of job loss and replacement among the workforces. Yet, as I gaze into the heart of this digital […]

Embracing the pivot for a new trajectory in mining

Embracing the pivot for a new trajectory in mining

Wayne Janneker, Executive for Mining Industrial and Health Management, BCX. In the vast expanse of South Africa, where the mining industry has long been the bedrock of economic prosperity, a seismic shift is currently underway. This once steadfast sector is embarking on a transformative journey towards new-generation technologies, a pivotal move promising enhanced efficiency, proactive safety, sustainability, and competitiveness. Yet, as the industry eagerly embraces this evolution, there is a looming concern that casts a shadow – the fear of job losses.

The imperative for change

South Africa’s mining landscape, deeply rooted in tradition, finds itself at a crossroads. […]

Visionary Advocate Andrew Spira Discusses the Effects of AI On Employment And The Argument For Universal Basic Income

Visionary Advocate Andrew Spira Discusses the Effects of AI On Employment And The Argument For Universal Basic Income

The displacement of jobs is becoming an increasingly pressing concern. A recent analysis by Goldman Sachs suggests that AI could potentially replace up to 300 million jobs globally, painting a future where the job market cannot keep pace with technological progress.

In response to this impending reality, visionary advocate Andrew Spira points to these figures as a clarion call for adopting Universal Basic Income (UBI).

The award-winning, best-selling sci-fi novel series The Expanse, written by James S.A. Corey (the pseudonym of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck), offers a compelling depiction of a future where AI and automation have rendered most […]

Technological advancements do not take away jobs, they create jobs

Technological advancements do not take away jobs, they create jobs

The new technology of today, especially Automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) has made a remarkable impact by improving its capabilities to perform the tasks that were previously done by humans. This rapid advancement in technology has raised concerns that machines will replace human labor. Whenever a new technology is introduced in the market, it sparks intense debate on “Will technological advancements take away jobs from people?”

If you dig into past data, you will realize that automation has replaced manual labor and jobs of repetitive nature. Many information technologies have improved manufacturing processes by […]

150,000 jobs disappear each year. Employers focus on automation

150,000 jobs disappear each year. Employers focus on automation

Source: Pexels Technological advancements like automation and artificial intelligence (AI) have already reduced the number of available jobs, while demographic shifts and new work models are expected to further decrease employment levels. Personnel Service experts note that around 150,000 more workers leave the job market each year than enter it, signaling that current employment levels are at their peak in Poland and Europe.

The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote and hybrid work, proving them as effective as traditional office work. There’s increasing support for a four-day workweek. Companies are looking to automation and AI to reduce their reliance […]

Here are the jobs that are safe from AI

Here are the jobs that are safe from AI

Artificial intelligence is filtering into nearly every part of our lives, which means there’s no stopping it from reshaping the labor market. By 2030, activities that account for up to 30% of hours currently worked across the US economy could be automated — a trend accelerated by generative AI, according to consulting firm McKinsey Global Institute .

"The accelerated development of generative AI, with its advanced natural language capabilities, has extended the possibilities for automation to a much wider set of occupations," the firm said in a report. "Although generative AI is still in the early stages, the potential applications […]

A rise in self-service technologies may cause a decline in our sense of community

A rise in self-service technologies may cause a decline in our sense of community

Public-facing automation, like self-service kiosks, reduce the chances we have to interact with other people. (Shutterstock) Automation, once hidden behind closed doors in factories, is increasingly moving into public view. Customers can pay for groceries or clothing at a self-checkout machine, order fast food from a touchscreen kiosk or even pickup coffee from a “ robo-café .”

These technologies, which substitute human contact for robot-based interactions, are examples of self-service technologies — innovative public-facing automation which “ enable customers to perform entire services on their own without direct assistance from employees .”

While self-service technologies have the potential to improve efficiency […]