www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com 39
Think smart to
It is one of the key issues of our age and fundamental to the way we live and work”
accommodate AI
paid and have very few employment rights. “There will always be work to do. The question is what kind of work it will be. It may be less well paid, with more and more people chasing the good jobs available. And there may well be a growth in self-employment. That can go hand in hand with lower pay – we are already seeing people running their own business who aren’t even making the minimum wage.” Technological change is nothing new – it has been happening for hundreds of years – but it is the steep pace and intensity of the current shift which is unprecedented. “And it doesn’t always make life easier for the consumer. If you look at call centres, then the customer can be kept on hold waiting for an answer. That makes the business more efficient at the cost of the client’s time.”
Automatic guided vehicle (AGV) with robotic arm
Expectations of long term
employment security, Ruth adds, are also likely to continue to fall. “Young people entering the workforce in particular are going to have to accept the fact that they will probably have a series of jobs during their working lives.” Like others, she accepts that if change is managed intelligently, it can be a good thing for all concerned. The same point is made by David D’Souza, Membership Director of the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development. He says
technology should enhance the performance of the workforce rather than simply being seen as a quick fix. “It can be a great way of improving productivity and that’s what we want
to see happen. “A combination of people and
automation is the best way forward, with the technology allowing humans to be creative. Organisations should not be thinking of their people as a pure cost to be reduced.” Despite the challenges, David says he is optimistic about the future. “If we
automate everything then there will be a race to the bottom. Where it becomes really effective is
when it releases people to be productive and allows them to work more flexibly. “We are seeing a narrative about social impacts at work and there is also more transparency than ever these days about how organisations treat people. There is a growing discussion about the quality of the workplace and awareness of issues such as conditions and sexual harassment.” The debate about positive use of
technology should fit into this. “Of course, government has a role to play, but so do bodies like ours, politicians and academics. “It is one of the key issues of our age and fundamental to the way we live and work. We have to evaluate the opportunities and risks and the best way to do that is with a multidisciplinary approach.”
David D’Souza
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