The possibility of machines eventually taking over jobs isn’t a new idea. People have known since the Industrial Revolution (News - Alert) that their jobs may become obsolete as a result of machines doing them faster and more efficiently. Now, artificial intelligence has entered the chat — but we don’t need to panic about this trend just yet, because there are still many tasks that AI can’t perform. The advancement of AI changes the jobs that people have, rather than putting them out of work. Hassan Taher is a prominent author and expert in the field of AI technology who shared his insights into the growing role of AI in the workplace.
“The field of AI technology is constantly evolving,” Taher said, “and staying up to date on the latest developments is crucial to staying relevant and competitive.”
Can AI Really Replace Humans?
A report published by Goldman Sachs in March 2023 estimated that AI could complete at least one-fourth of all tasks that humans currently perform. It also predicts that employees in the United States and the United Kingdom will lose 300 million jobs to automated processes.
Says the report, “Our estimates intuitively suggest that fewer jobs in EMs [emerging markets] are exposed to automation than in DMs [developed markets], but that 18% of work globally could be automated by AI on an employment-weighted basis.”
Furthermore, this report explores the effect of AI taking over all of these jobs at once. It could affect hundreds of millions of families and adversely impact many labor systems in addition to the global economy. However, financial analysts also report that AI is still unable to perform tasks that require distinctly human intelligence, which should ease many concerns about AI. Hassan Taher writes about this possibility at length in his book The Rise of Intelligent Machines.
But all hope for human work isn’t gone.
Human Advantages
AI doesn’t possess emotional intelligence, nor can it think beyond its programming. Imagine for this example that AI software has been programmed to clean up its files each day but encounters a problem during this process. If the program hasn’t been taught a solution to this problem, files will continue accumulating on the computer. Depending on the contents and size of those files, it could damage the computer before anyone notices.
Taher says, “I believe that AI technology has the potential to bring about significant positive change in the world, but many people are hesitant to embrace it fully.” He adds that achieving this outcome will require responsible use.
What Types of Jobs Are Safest?
Jobs that require creativity are generally safer from AI replacement than those that don’t. Within the IT industry, graphic designers and publishers are more likely to be safer than computer programmers and machinists. People with jobs that require skills not easily replicated by machines may feel more secure, but they should also understand the exceptions to this rule. For example, AI can duplicate a creative design by coincidence, which can then be used unless the human creator has protected it through a patent or trademark.
Health care jobs are another area that will be difficult for AI to take over, as these jobs typically require people to interact with patients on a close, personal level. Taher discusses the role of health care in his blog post The Future of Work in an AI-Powered World. He believes AI has the potential to significantly impact patients’ lives by revolutionizing their care and outcome.
Additional examples of jobs that require a high level of human interaction include business consultants, journalists, and mental health professionals, making these roles relatively safe from AI replacement for the time being. Many other jobs are also tricky for AI because they require workers to think on their feet and make quick decisions. Some experts believe AI will never take over the trade industry, no matter how much technology advances.
However, Taher believes that AI can change the way people in these industries communicate with their customers. For example, a platform that uses AI could help connect people with expertise with those who need it.
Government Response
Researchers at Princeton University recently studied the future effects of AI on regulated industries. They concluded that jobs like telemarketers and language and literature teachers are apt to be affected by AI. This study also found that those who work in certain roles — like lawyers, police officers, and teachers — would be the hardest to replace.
As a result, governments should concede the gains AI has already made and begin creating new jobs to replace those that AI has made obsolete. The U.S. government has historically played a crucial role in negotiating these types of changes in the employment landscape, so it isn’t a stretch to assume that it would do so again for AI. These changes offer potential benefits such as lower production costs and increased demand for products and services, so the effects of AI in the workplace won’t all be bad.
The penetration of AI into most jobs is inevitable, so the real question is how quickly these changes will occur. Hassan Taher believes that ethical considerations should drive this process to maximize the positive effects of AI on workers across industries.
And he should know. Born in Beaumont, Texas, on Feb. 3, 1965, to his father Ali, an engineer, and mother Fatima, a high school mathematics teacher, Taher has a younger sister, Lila, a pediatrician. His parents supported and cultivated Taher’s interest in science and technology from a young age.
He developed an early interest in science fiction novels, especially those about AI. These books fueled a passion for his own storytelling when he joined his school’s writing club. In addition, Taher became an avid violinist, maintaining this interest throughout his life, joining a community orchestra while attending the University of Texas at Dallas.
Taher met his future wife, Sarah, at college; she became a graphic designer. The couple has two children, Adam and Leila, and the family travels often and usually plans vacations around nature exploration, especially hiking. Hassan Taher is also a photography enthusiast and an advocate for environmental preservation.
Taher founded Taher AI Solutions, which allows him to influence the use of AI technology in many industries. He’s dedicated his professional life to educating the public and raising awareness of the ethical and responsible use of AI. This work has earned Hassan Taher the respect of the AI community, inspiring others to learn more about this field.
Taher has written several nonfiction books about AI, including The Rise of Intelligent Machines. This book set the stage for his career as an author, speaker, and consultant in the AI sector. Taher is currently writing a book that will explore AI’s potential in overcoming environmental challenges.
