Only humans need apply : Winners and losers in the age of smart machines

An invigorating, thought-provoking, and positive look at the rise of automation that explores how professionals across industries can find sustainable careers in the near future. Nearly half of all working Americans could risk losing their jobs because of technology. It’s not only blue-collar jobs at stake. Millions of educated knowledge workers—writers, paralegals, assistants, medical technicians—are threatened by accelerating advances in artificial intelligence. The industrial revolution shifted workers from farms to factories. In the first era of automation, machines relieved humans of manually exhausting work. Today, Era Two of automation continues to wash across the entire services-based economy that has replaced jobs in agriculture and manufacturing. Era Three, and the rise of AI, is dawning. Smart computers are demonstrating they are capable of making better decisions than humans. Brilliant technologies can now decide, learn, predict, and even comprehend much faster and more accurately than the human brain, and their progress is accelerating. Where will this leave lawyers, nurses, teachers, and editors? In __Only Humans Need Apply__, Thomas Hayes Davenport and Julia Kirby reframe the conversation about automation, arguing that the future of increased productivity and business success isn’t either human or machine. It’s both. The key is augmentation, utilizing technology to help humans work better, smarter, and faster. Instead of viewing these machines as competitive interlopers, we can see them as partners and collaborators in creative problem solving as we move into the next era. The choice is ours. In Only Humans Need Apply, Thomas Hayes Davenport And Julia Kirby Reframe The Conversation About Automation, Arguing That The Future Of Increased Productivity And Business Success Isn't Either Human Or Machine. It’s Both. The Key Is Augmentation, Utilizing Technology To Help Humans Work Better, Smarter, And Faster. Instead Of Viewing These Machines As Competitive Interlopers, We Can See Them As Partners And Collaborators In Creative Problem Solving As We Move Into The Next Era. The Choice Is Ours,--amazon.com. Introduction (we Are Entering A Third Era Of Automation, In Which Machines Encroach On Decision-making) -- Are Computers Coming After Your Job? (yes, Your Current Job Will Be Done Better By A Smart Machine In Part If Not In Whole. Take This Threat Seriously.) -- Just How Smart Are Smart Machines? (key Technological Advances Have Made Machines More Capable Than Humans On Many Dimensions, But There Is Still A Role For Wetware.) -- Don't Automate, Augment (instead Of Asking What Work Will Machines Take Away From Us Next, We Need To Start Asking What World Will Machines Enable Us To Take On Next?) -- Stepping Up (people Who Still Manage To Problem-solve At A Higher Cognitive Level Than Machines Will Do So Because They Comprehend The Bigger Picture And Apply Judgment To Decisions Where Insufficient Data Exists.) --^ Stepping Aside (people Who Tap Into The Human Condition Are Able To Complement Machine Intelligence With Other Of Their Multiple Intelligences Beyond Rational Problem-solving.)-- Stepping In (people Who Make The Machines Productive Will Rely On Them To Make Routine Decisions But Will Know When To Correct Their Mistakes And How To Tweak Them For Better Performance-- And How To Explain Their Automated Logic To Other People.) -- Stepping Narrowly (people Who Hyperspecialize Will Hold On To Decision-making By Gaining Deep Expertise In Areas That Are So Narrow They Don't Make Economic Sense For Anyone To Automate.) -- Stepping Forward (people Who Build The Next Generation Of Smart Machines Will Be Entrepreneurial As Well As Technically Brilliant. No One Will Ever Go Broke Automating The Intelligence Of The Knowledge Worker.) --^ How You'll Manage Augmentation (for Managers, Augmentation Is The Only Viable Enterprise Strategy, Given The Competitive Imperative For Constant Innovation And The Very Fast Following Of Any Software-based Advantages.) -- Utopia Or Dystopia? How Society Must Adapt To Smart Machines (an Emphasis On Augmentation Has Implications For Education Policy, Job Creation Policy, And More.). Thomas H. Davenport And Julia Kirby. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 255-263) And Index. How should we adapt to an AI-driven future? “The world the authors describe may be unsettling, but it is [one we] will likely live to see.” —The Wall Street JournalNearly half of all working Americans could be at risk losing their jobs because of technology. That includes millions of knowledge workers—writers, paralegals, assistants, medical technicians—now threatened by accelerating advances in artificial intelligence.The industrial revolution shifted workers from farms to factories. In Era One of automation, machines relieved humans of manually exhausting work. Today, Era Two of automation continues to wash across the entire services-based economy that has replaced jobs in agriculture and manufacturing. Era Three, and the rise of AI, is dawning. Smart computers are demonstrating they are capable of making better decisions than humans. Brilliant technologies can now decide, learn, predict, and even comprehend much faster and more accurately than the human brain, and their progress is accelerating. Where will this leave lawyers, nurses, teachers, and editors? How do we find sustainable careers in the near future?Only Humans Need Apply reframes the conversation about automation, arguing that the future of increased productivity and business success isn't either human or machine. It's both. The key is augmentation, utilizing technology to help humans work better, smarter, and faster. Instead of viewing these machines as competitive interlopers, we can see them as partners and collaborators in creative problem-solving as we move into the next era together. The choice is ours.“A fine call to action in the face of uncertainty.” —Financial Times