a16z Podcast | Automation, Jobs, & the Future of Work (and Income) | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

As smart machines increasingly take over decision-making tasks, humans must find ways to work alongside them and leverage their capabilities, rather than fear job loss.

Key Insights

• 💦 Automation in the workplace has progressed from dangerous work to dull work and is now entering the realm of decision-making.
• 💦 The future of work lies in humans working alongside smart machines, leveraging their capabilities to enhance performance.
• 😨 Rather than fearing job loss, humans should focus on finding ways to add value in the workplace that machines cannot.
• 💦 The concept of augmentation, where humans and machines work together, is key to navigating the future of work.
• 🤕 The nature of organizations and management science may shift towards a focus on emotional intelligence and leveraging the unique capabilities of humans in the age of smart machines.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What has been the historical progression of automation in the workplace?

Automation has taken three waves: dangerous work, dull work, and decision-making. Machines have increasingly taken over these tasks and are now entering the realm of decision-making.

Q: What are the three ways humans can adapt to the future of work?

Humans can step in, working alongside smart machines, monitoring and improving their performance. They can step up, taking on managerial roles and overseeing automated systems. They can also step forward, developing and marketing intelligent technologies.

Q: How does the concept of augmentation differ from automation?

Augmentation involves working alongside smart machines, leveraging their capabilities to enhance human performance. Automation, on the other hand, focuses on replacing human work entirely with machines.

Q: Is universal basic income a viable solution to job loss caused by automation?

The authors argue against the link between automation and universal basic income, as they believe there will still be a need for human employment. They propose a guaranteed work approach, where humans are compensated for their work and find meaning and structure in their jobs.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The age of automation has seen three waves of automation: dangerous work, dull work, and now decision-making. Machines are encroaching on the jobs traditionally thought to be safe from automation.

• Humans can adapt to the future of work by stepping in, stepping up, or stepping forward. Stepping in involves working alongside smart machines, monitoring and improving their performance. Stepping up involves taking on managerial roles, overseeing automated systems, and making necessary adjustments. Stepping forward involves developing and marketing intelligent technologies.

• Rather than focusing on universal basic income as a solution to job loss, the authors argue for a guaranteed work approach, where humans are compensated for their work and find meaning and purpose in their jobs.