How automation will transform the economy
The trend in the computerisation of jobs is not new. James Guthrie, Head of Academic Relations at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, says new technologies will change the job market of tomorrow.
As we pick up pace in the 21st century, things previously considered science fiction are starting to creep over the horizon. Driverless cars will just be known as "autos" and so many of the things we do at work will be replaced by computer software.
If you think about what you do for a living, how soon could it be replaced by a robot or algorithm? Do you spend hours a day creating algorithms to make your job easier?
As we focus on creating efficiencies, we open up endless possibilities to do things even better. Imagine if we had stopped developing the car after the model T, or if we were satisfied with the mobile phones of the 1980's.
I watched a fascinating video recently which explains a new kind of automation in the workplace which humankind will eventually be forced to stop keeping up with. It argues that the jobs you and I have today will no longer exist in the next few decades, and there may not be jobs to replace them.
We will attempt to uncover the impact of this on business and economics at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand’s annual thought leadership forum in February next year, The future of work: preparing business leaders and finance professionals for 2025.
Members of the business community, practitioners, academia and regulators will offer their perspectives on this increasingly important topic. The forum, and resulting publication, is part of our ongoing commitment to engage stakeholders and discuss the future challenges and opportunities for the profession.
For information on past forum topics visit charteredaccountants.com.au/academic.
James Guthrie FCA is Head of Academic Relations at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. He is an honorary professor at the University of Sydney and a fractional Professor at Bologna University and Macquarie University. In addition, he has been a Visiting Professor at universities in Sweden, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland and England throughout his career. Prior to taking up an academic career, James was a Chartered Accountant. Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand are committed to a leadership role in higher education and research. Their Academic Leadership program, which includes both an annual publication and annual forum, is a key priority.
James Guthrie AM is a Professor Emeritus at the Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance in Macquarie University and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Behavioural Economics and Social Systems (BESS). He was Head of Academic Relations at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand from 2008 to 2017.
patrickswan
December 23, 2014 at 5:41 am
Today, the robots,
Today, the robots, automation, and software can replace people might seem obvious to anyone who’s worked in automotive manufacturing or as a travel agent. But they believe that rapid technological change has been destroying jobs faster than it is creating them. Creating debt on young American adults especially those under the age of 35, it has taken a steep dive during the last ten years or so, according to a brand new study. Usually, that would sound like good news for the economy. In reality, however, it suggests a very unpleasant pattern.