A Comparative Analysis on the Impact of AI and Automation

Posted in 2023

Introduction

The two professions I have chosen to analyse are ophthalmologists and Agricultural labourers. These professions are very different but both are likely to be affected by automation and artificial intelligence.

Risk of Automation

First, let's decide which of these two professions has a higher chance of AI and automation. An agricultural labourer, coming under the Agricultural and forestry department, is at a very high risk of Automation, based on the key findings of the OECD1 . Let's say the agricultural labourer is responsible for mowing and sowing the seeds. The automation market is quite advanced now. We know that robots and high-end machines can automate this task by mowing and sowing the soil, reducing the time taken and labour involved. If it took one person to mow and one person to sow a certain-sized field to grow crops, now that would be replaced by machines. This technology can replace human labour, making jobs in this sector less stable. While employment increased in almost all occupations between 2012-20191 , there was less growth in the agriculture sector and other high risk sectors. This also meant that jobs in this sector are also less stable- you never know when the job would get replaced by a machine. Another interesting statistic of the OECD findings was that low-educated people not only had slower job growth but were also associated with high-risk jobs.

Does this automation take-away jobs? Yes and no. While automation can lead to job losses in some sectors, it can also create new job opportunities in others. However, these new jobs may require different skills and qualifications, and those who do not have the necessary skills may struggle to find employment. We discussed how a machine could replace two people working in the field. But this machine also opens the door to two different jobs- one would be a technician and the other an operator. The technician would be responsible for maintenance and operator for operating the machine. In some cases, the job of the operator might be replaced when the machine is advanced but that would also mean we require highly skilled technicians. Moreover, the development of new agriculture technologies would require skilled workers who can design, program, and repair these systems. This can lead to an increase in demand for workers with technological and engineering expertise. This is not a new trend. Over the years, when new technological advancements took away jobs, they also created new jobs. Hence, workers need to reskill and upgrade their skills to remain employable. It seems that there isn't much scope for people aspiring to do agricultural jobs, but upgrading their skills can help them get better jobs. The new jobs created in this area may require basic digital, technology, design, and maintenance skills. Other skills required, especially for managerial roles, would be leadership, communication, and the ability to train others. Out of all, adaptability and continuous learning skills are the most important as the field is expanding and to stay on track these are required. It makes this field interesting for newer generations as they might be interested in using new technologies. On the other hand, this can be difficult for agricultural labourers as these professions are less educated and would be hard to access new resources to upskill. This can lead to income inequality. New jobs created might not pay enough and expand this inequality.

An Ophthalmologist, i.e. a doctor specializing in Eye is a part of the healthcare industry. Based on the key finding of the OECD2 , health professionals and the healthcare industry are at very low risk of automation. The field of optometry has a 14% chance of being automated. The ophthalmologist profession might not be affected directly by this. That is, some jobs in this field like web sales, online eye vision assessments and refactoring are already getting automated. It is only a matter of years before automated refraction could be common, and could be connected to 3-D printers and print out glasses in seconds3 . In any way, people aspiring to be ophthalmologists or enter this field would be expected to have high literacy, research, digital and tech skills. They would also be expected to have empathy-related skills and the ability to train and work with others. Adaptability and learning skills are highly expected.

Public Trust and Ethical Considerations

Another important factor to consider would be people's trust. Would customers trust rice produced on an automated farm? Yes! The rice milling machinery is expected to grow by a CAGR of 2.30% between 2021-254 , indicating that it is becoming more successful in the market. And, how many times do we wonder if the rice in our plates was produced by machines? Does it change anything-no, unless there is harm being added? However, would patients trust and accept getting their eyes treated by a robot ophthalmologist? Or this could be an ethical implication, should machines be allowed to make decisions that affect human lives, such as medical diagnoses? AI and robots are what it is fed. The algorithms used in these decisions may be biased or flawed, which could be dangerous. Based on a survey conducted by Mindshare5 In the UK, only 11% of people would prefer getting medical advice from a robot. While AI and Automation are increasingly developing, it doesn't seem like they would replace human doctors so quickly as people don't seem to trust them. There is a human element that can't be replaced by AI and Automation. The emotion and feelings of empathy and trust cannot be replicated by technology. The OECD findings also showed an increase in job growth in this sector. This is where AI could come into the picture. It is said that AI would help in professional decision making leading to minimising medical mistakes in client treatments. This also means new technologies and skills would be required to use them.

Regional and Economic Factors

While agricultural labourers are at high risk of automation in general, the risks and statistics would vary based on the economic situation of an area or country. A third-world, low-developing country might not have enough resources to get high-end machinery for labourer replacements or resources to educate their workforce and shift the job market. Ophthalmologists in rural areas might not have advanced AI technology to help them in their tasks.

Also, the impact of automation on a particular profession can vary depending on factors such as economic conditions, availability of technology, and the level of education and training of the workforce. In third-world and developing countries where resources are scarce, the shift towards automation in the agricultural sector might be slower. Farmers may not have the means to invest in expensive machinery, and the workforce might not have the necessary skills and education to transition to new jobs. In these cases, the risk of job automation is low and human labour would still be required. Similarly, in rural areas where access to advanced technology is limited, ophthalmologists might not have AI tools to help them as compared to those in urban areas.

Conclusion

In both of these professions, the risks and benefits of technological advancements must be considered. While AI and automation have the potential to change these fields and create new jobs, it also changes the jobs and creates new skills requirements. Hence, it is important for workers to be adaptable and continuously learn new skills to stay relevant in the changing job market