How to Lose Your Job Successfully?
Despite many predictions about what would happen when technological singularity occurs, nobody knows. The entire concept of a singularity event is based on understanding what intelligence actually is - however, we are far from it.
Few years back I spoke at a Google Conference in Singapore with young students who were pursuing an engineering degree. Many asked questions like “how do I best start with machine learning?”, or, “how can I make a career in the AI industry?”, etc.
Thanks to these students, I realized that we need to think differently about building our careers in the future. Eventually, we’ll all have to answer the question of “How to lose our jobs successfully to an AI?” – whatever the industry we’re in or the career path we envision.
Addressing this existential question without fear has benefits. It indirectly provides us with step by step instructions on how to build a future proof career in industries disrupted by AI which, at its core, effectively destroys roles traditionally held by humans. Just take a look at this Chinese game company which has appointed the world’s first humanoid robot as its CEO – of course with the motto: “She will make fairer decisions for the employees”.
Still think your role is the exception?
And: what’s “fair”?
The Problem with "Ethical AI"
A big challenge how an AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) CEO would ultimately lead its people is the lack of (true) ethical principles. Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics theoretically suggest:
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm;
A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law;
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
Whilst science fiction today, such principles could easily let us believe that when we lose our jobs to AI, we’d somehow still be taken care of in the bigger interest of all.
However, the rapid rise of AI related technologies in general could also lead to a global control of various government regulation and activity, monitored and managed by AI itself, in which case the question arises:
"What would an AI consider valuable for me to do in society, for the planet, itself, and, each other?" – Toby Ruckert
A fantastic career could probably be built by answering the last question, but notice the absence of self-realization, fulfillment, or, for that matter the “pursuit of happiness” in these lines?
Still want to lose your job successfully to an AI?
What helped me tackle this conflict was the realization that data (a factor AI heavily relies on to function) is not the new oil, but human ingenuity is.
"Data is not the new oil. Human Ingenuity is." – Toby Ruckert
Whilst oil appears to be limited in supply and wars are fought over it, data on the other hand is growing exponentially. In fact, we are overwhelmed with data, often left unused. In 2019 alone we recorded 1200 billion photos and videos on our smartphones, most never to be seen again. So whilst we can have all the data in the world – without our attention, it's just noise.
Contrary to noisy and unlimited data and precious gold, oil and diamonds, the human spirit with its creative problem solving skills harbors an innovation potential which isn’t finite, yet precious.
If we think of attention as the leadership currency for the next decade, any job which needs creative problem solving skills, or, can be filled with the human spirit of ingenuity, will be sustainable.
This process will take time and sacrifice but ultimately lead to the Renaissance of Humanity and the Rise of (real) Human Intelligence.
