Jobs will not be threatened by the 4th industrial revolution but will be shifted into new skills areas that may even lead to more job creation, IBM director Keith Dierkx told FTW.
Speaking at a recent technical conference hosted by the South Africa Heavy Haul Association, the railways innovation specialist said recent numbers reflected that fears of job losses resulting from artificial intelligence (AI) were unfounded.
“A recent study showed that there are actually more jobs created by AI than taken away by it.” San Francisco-based Dierkx explained that it was well documented that “usually one technology will displace another but it creates a whole new set of jobs.
“In some cases where there is a mundane or routine piece of work being done, an organisation will look at employing AI and moving that human into a more high-touch customer-facing role.”
Dierkx said that the challenge for Africa would be to invest in human capital through training to equip people with the necessary skills for the future.
CAPTION
Keith Dierkx, IBM director.
