10/11/2019 Would a robot be able to perform your job — why or why not?

Would a robot be able to perform your

job — why or why not?
usm systems
Oct 11 · 6 min read

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence in Industrial and IT sector has

considerably reduced the job opportunities for employees. We must have
heard through newspapers or from friends that machines with artificial
intelligence can perform the job of employees/workmen and make way for
the employer to fire them. I believe this article will give an instance of AI
deployment, explore its consequences and the precautions that can be taken
by employees.

The Impact of AI

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10/11/2019 Would a robot be able to perform your job — why or why not?

Jobs Automated

Generally, an AI processor can manage and perform many of the existing

tasks taking away employee jobs. Employers have already started
implementing this in various departments and reaping the profit. Since the
IT industry is the center of AI development, it is being implemented rapidly.
As it benefits the employer in terms of profit and turns over, huge funds are
allocated towards this emerging technology and recruiting more employees
having AI skillset. AI implementation leads to a layoff of older employees.
The companies prefer to take up freshers at lower salaries, not train existing
employees in new technology.

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10/11/2019 Would a robot be able to perform your job — why or why not?

Now, let us look at one specific function where AI is actively employed in IT

companies.

Usually in IT companies, if an employee gets released from the project,

he/she will be on the bench where he can request HR (Human Resource
Manager) for a project that matches his/her skill set. He will be in bench
reporting to HR until he finds a project matching his skillset. Once he
crosses ’n’ days (n — limited number of days specified by the company), HR
will force them to take up one of the available projects without regard to
employee’s skillset and other constraints (like location, shift, etc.). I have
also seen HR threatening less experienced employees emotionally.
Employee ends up accepting the given project of unfamiliar technology and
struggles a lot to learn unknown technologies/tool by spending extended
hours in the office. The company does not provide time for learning new
technology before taking up the project. Some other employees find a
project using their personal networks and start working there.

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10/11/2019 Would a robot be able to perform your job — why or why not?

Machines will do what humans do now

Generally, bench time gives opportunity/time to employees to reevaluate

their skill sets and update/refresh themselves with the latest
features/changes in their technology. They also get time to learn soft skills
(communication skills). There are a few employees who don’t utilize the
time and do nothing productively, but this ratio is very small.

If you find it hard to go through this process for getting a suitable project by
interacting with HR, the new procedure which is waiting to be implemented
is even more alarming.

AI-based Project Allocation

They have developed an AI processor through which employees will be

allocated projects without contacting HR. Based on the employee’s skill set,
the AI processor will show a few projects; the employee had to choose one
of them. The problem here is: location constraint is by-passed. AI processor

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10/11/2019 Would a robot be able to perform your job — why or why not?

will randomly show a few projects across India. Accepting a project in

different locations may not be feasible for everyone; we may be living with a
family in Chennai; we may be taking care of elderly parents. There will be
many more valid reasons for not being ready to accept those projects. By
searching more employees will be able to find a project matching their skill
sets in the location of their preference. Though most of the HRs’ is rude and
harsh, somehow we can make them understand and struggle to find a
project in the preferred location.

The chances of getting a preferred project by explaining the personal issues

to the AI processor it is highly impossible.

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10/11/2019 Would a robot be able to perform your job — why or why not?

The chances of getting a preferred project by explaining the personal issues

to the HR is high; whereas with the AI processor, it is highly impossible. It is
a mechanical/impersonal thing that won't listen but push back all queries
for which answer is not programmed into it.

If the employee rejects a project due to unsuitable location, the AI processor

will record such project rejections as “Employee rejected projects” and in
turn, this might give a pretext for the employer to carry out termination
quoting this as the reason.

Further, the AI processor will create a job loss for HRs since it is designed to
carry out their job. Currently, HRs have been sending employees out, but
they will also be sent out in the future. As usual, the employer will be
reaping the benefits in terms of profit. The bitter truth is that, one way AI is
being used to send employees out; secondly, using the same AI, count of HR
is reduced. And all these will be carried out very soon.

Don’t we need new technology?

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10/11/2019 Would a robot be able to perform your job — why or why not?

We, as professionals and workers, support all scientific inventions and

developments; we should embrace new scientific developments for the
welfare of the human race. But, we should ensure that it aids in uplifting
the well-being of society as a whole. The current situation is totally reverse.
All scientific inventions are being used only for the welfare of the minority,
who are rich and control the productive resources — namely capitalists.

It’s not a big deal for an employee to think “Money is Primary; Money can
bring many things” in this world. But, the same is transformed as
“Everything is a Trade/Business” by the employers and millionaires.
Knowing well that our work in AI will lead to job loss to lakhs of people, we
develop the technology. But we are not in a position to regulate/align the
usage of technology for maximizing human well being. AI technology
developed by us is used to send our fellow employees out of the company by
employers. We have no say in the use our creations are put into and the
consequences they create.
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10/11/2019 Would a robot be able to perform your job — why or why not?

How to face this problem? What is the remedy?

We have no power or authority in today’s system to ask employers to stop or

regulate the usage of AI for the benefit of employees and society at large. As
an individual IT professional it is difficult to question absurd things in their
own company. Even if we ask, we will not get the appropriate answer or
remediate plan for this as they target only profits. In case, if employees
started questioning employers, they will be targeted and
unlawfully/unethically treated.

But we, employees, can unite and collectively take our place in the decision
making the process. Only, the company having union working for the
welfare of employees without any discrimination and where the employees

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10/11/2019 Would a robot be able to perform your job — why or why not?

themselves join the union will have high productivity and turn over.
Employees' rights will be protected only here. Even if there is an issue, the
solution will be attained without compromising employee welfare.

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