Dive Brief:
- Respondents to a new survey by Deloitte were largely optimistic about the current and future role of technology in their organizations. Most respondents (69%) expect artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive technologies to add more jobs than they eliminate. Deloitte polled 250 senior executives.
- In the report, Bullish on the Business Value of Cognitive: 2017 Deloitte State of Cognitive Survey, 63% of respondents said they're training employees in how to create cognitive technologies or work alongside them. Deloitte CEO Cathy Engelbert recognizes the concern people have about machines replacing humans on the job, but says employers should look at how employees and machines can become what she calls "co-bots."
- The report also shows that 92% of respondents think cognitive technologies will be a significant part of their internal business operations; 87% believe the technologies will improve their products and services; and 90% think cognitive technologies will have a larger role in shaping their company's strategy.
Dive Insight:
Studies are all over the place about how many jobs, if any, AI and technology in general will claim in the future. Deutsche Bank says automation will claim thousands of jobs from its workforce. CB Insights says AI will come for some jobs, but not all at once. Cornerstone predicts that automation will take over 3.5 million retail jobs. Employers will likely need to sort out job gains and losses based on industry and job categories.
Employers might want to prepare for any possible change technology brings by training employees for new roles and encouraging them to upgrade their skills and knowledge, or upskill, as it's now known.
