FEATURE


New Jobs and Professions we’ll be engaged in soon


By Rohit Talwar, Steve Wells, Alexandra Whittington, April Koury, and Helena Calle, Fast Future


The Shape of Jobs to Com, a report we wrote for the UK Government in 2010, described new jobs that might emerge in the global economy by 2030. Many of those are now real jobs and the rest are still likely to materialise. As an update on those ideas, our recent books The Future


of Business, Beyond Genuine Stupidity – Ensuring AI Serves Humanity, and The Future Reinvented – Reimagining Life, Society, and Business we discuss a whole range of new industries and professions that might emerge as a result of these exponential advances. Presented below is a selection of new jobs that we think could rise to the fore in the coming decade.


Enhancement Specialists


Human Enhancement Technician – As a society, we are starting to augment the human body with chemical, genetic, electronic, and physical enhancements. Body shops will appear on the high street where appropriately trained technicians will be able to perform these upgrades – administering nootropic drugs, genetic modifications, 3D printed limbs, and electronic brain stimulation. Cryogenics Concierge – As more people opt for cryogenic preservation at – or close to – the end of their life, they will need specialist advice. The cryo concierge will provide guidance on different types of cryo procedures, costs, financial planning, the family’s rights and responsibilities, what happens when you are regenerated, insurance, and how to manage the death.


New Societal Roles


Independent Fact Checker – This role already exists to some extent but becomes ever more essential as concerns grow over the proliferation of fake news, companies exaggerate their marketing claims, and politicians argue about the veracity of each other’s statements. These arbiters of truth will use a swathe of AI systems to check the truth and origin of every claim and fact. Clients will pay them for these services and for a regularly updated assessment of how truthful and accurate their own statements are. Public honesty tables provided by the fact checkers will influence the reputations and fortunes of businesses, politicians, and political parties. Crypto Detective – The spread of crypto currencies and initial


coin offerings has led to high levels of fraud and concerns over the scale of crypto based shadow economy transactions. Specialist detectives backed up by AI will be required to unravel crime in the cryptosphere. Robo-cop Coordinator – With the increasing capability of AI


and robotics, policing could be undertaken by automated robotic systems. These might range from humanoid robots capable of interacting directly with the public, through to autonomous road


12 www.isopps.com


vehicles and drones for surveillance. Human oversight would enable resources to be deployed based on the recommendations made by automated systems given the situation observed. The coordinators would be able to supervise a significant number of policing assets, all of which would be capable of operating 24/7. Personal Festival Designer – for the super wealthy the next


must have experience could be the creation of your own festival as birthday parties are so 2018. Your designer would craft the perfect combination of entertainment, glamping accommodation, gourmet food, tech support services, and on demand transport using drones and autonomous vehicles.


Lifestyle roles


Sexual Compatibility Consultant – The risk of choosing an inappropriate partner and then having the “wrong” child could see the rise of compatibility specialists. These experts would use AI algorithms to assess everything from IQ and EQ to genetic makeup and family medical history to try and ensure we find the right mating partner. Urban Foraging Educators – In the coming decade and


beyond, food scarcity may force more people to forage for healthy food. In cities, where most of the population will be concentrated, urban foraging education may become a matter of survival. There may be a demand for experts to train the public in identifying poisonous plants, edible weeds, and wild fruits/vegetables. Future foraging professionals could become as beloved (and marketable) as the celebrity chefs of today.


New Industries – New Professions


Chief Augmentation Officer (CAO) – Within a decade, an increasing number of staff could be seeking bodily augmentations that render them close to superhuman cyborgs. These humans 2.0 may need to have different management, working conditions, and workplace rights – all designed and overseen by the CAO. Space Junk Removal Supervisor – Near Earth orbit is increasingly congested by the remnants of old space missions, obsolete satellites, and the results of accidental collisions and losses. At the same time, the space sector is expected to explode – encompassing everything from asteroid mining and space tourism to the establishment of off world colonies. In response, dependent upon the type of junk being targeted, different fleets of specialised space craft would be controlled, deployed, and coordinated by Space Junk Removal Supervisors based at contractors’ ground stations. The experience in low Earth orbit will drive new policies, agreements, and procedures to prevent a similar issue developing around the Moon and Mars.


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