人工智能和機(jī)器人科技在飛速發(fā)展解取，很多人都擔(dān)心這類(lèi)技術(shù)對(duì)工作場(chǎng)所帶來(lái)的影響步责。人工智能技術(shù)能以更低的成本和更高的效率工作，這是否意味著機(jī)器人將變成各類(lèi)職業(yè)的主力軍禀苦？如果真的會(huì)這樣蔓肯，那么人類(lèi)的工作是否會(huì)岌岌可危？
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As new technology is introduced, there are many who worry about its impact on our current and future lifestyles – particularly when it comes to jobs. It is a current belief that with the rise of robotics and artificial intelligence, many people’s jobs, and therefore their livelihoods, are likely to be lost to automation.
This type of fear isn’t new. In the 19th century, the automated weaving machine was revolutionising the English textiles industry and would contribute to the Industrial Revolution. When manual workers became redundant, it sparked protests at the loss of their vocation.
Automation in the work place is nothing new. Machines have been performing menial tasks on our behalf for years, allowing us to escape the drudgery that accompanies many repetitive jobs. In fact, the International Federation of Robotics states that in manufacturing on average there are now 74 robots per 10,000 employees. That has risen from 66 in 2015.
General Manager of Digital Customer Engagement Solutions at tech firm Nuance, Bernard Louvat, believes that ‘AI is a big threat to low-skilled jobs, no question.’ He also thinks that AI chatbots will oust most call centre staff within a decade. When you consider that a large telecoms company like AT&T employs around 100,000 call centre staff, that’s a lot of people on the dole.
And that’s just one industry. A recent report from the McKinsey Global Institute, a private sector think tank, states that nearly two thirds of all jobs could have at least 30% of their activities automated by 2030.
However, McKinsey also believes that this new technology will also ‘create new occupations that do not exist today, much as technologies in the past have done.’ As the horse gave way to the car, hostlers became mechanics and mechanised manufacturing drove up wages and created more long-term roles than it destroyed. In fact, figures from the World Bank have shown that despite a 2.2 billion rise in population between 1991 and 2017, global unemployment has fallen by 0.3%.
‘It’s an evolution of work’ says Ian Barkin, co-founder of Symphony Ventures, a robotic process automation specialist. As low-skilled jobs are taken on by AI, people will need to learn new skills. ‘This calls on us to focus on up-skilling, Technology can lead to job reductions but it doesn’t have to,’ says Barkin.
Whether or not robotics and AI will leave us all jobless remains to be seen. Current views on the subject are mixed. Increased automation could indeed lead to a loss of some jobs, but at the same time is likely to create many more as new skills are required. Will they balance out? I’ll get my AI assistant to get back to you on that one.
vocabulary
livelihood 生計(jì)
automation 自動(dòng)化
redundant 多余的振乏，失業(yè)的蔗包，被裁員的
@discrimination：
vocation 工作 vacation 假期
@積累一些常用的表示“苦工”的單詞：
drudgery 苦工，辛苦乏味的工作
repetitive 單調(diào)重復(fù)的
menial（工作）枯燥的慧邮、不體面的调限，帶貶義
tedious chores 乏味的工作
daily grind 日常瑣事
employee 公司員工误澳，雇員
revolutionise 使徹底改變
low-skilled job 低技能工作
oust 趕走耻矮、奪取，取代
take on 承擔(dān)（一份工作）
staff 全體工作人員
think tank 智囊團(tuán)
on the dole （英式表達(dá)）靠領(lǐng)取救濟(jì)金生活
industry 行業(yè)忆谓、產(chǎn)業(yè)
occupation 職業(yè)
drive up 使...上升裆装，提高
wage（尤指給體力勞動(dòng)者支付的）工錢(qián)、報(bào)酬
drive up wages 提升工資
cut wages 削減工資
role 工作
manual worker 體力勞動(dòng)者
spark protest 引發(fā)抗議
up-skill （通過(guò)培訓(xùn)）提升技能
balance out 平衡陪毡，相抵
jobless 失業(yè)的
up-skill (v) 提升技能
on behalf of sb. 代表某人
give way to 讓位給...
get back to sb. 給某人回復(fù)
question
In McKinsey’s opinion, what will happen as jobs are lost to automation?
make sentences
I hate being a builder. It’s the drudgery of it. All the tasks are boring or physically hard!
By a vote of no confidence, Phillip is ousted from his position as CEO by Tom.
After I lost my job at the factory, I was on the dole for 5 years. I lived on benefits.
I’m really sorry. I’m so busy with tasks, I don’t think I can take on any more.
The loss of business means that we’ll have to cut wages. The staff won’t be happy.
answer
McKinsey also believes that this new technology will also ‘create new occupations that do not exist today, much as technologies in the past have done.
