Mastering the robotThe future of work in the second machine age

ETUI/ETUC conference 29-06-2016

Robert Went (WRR)@went1955

The future of work

WRR-project

Will 47% of jobs disappear? Not so fast…

• 100 biggest Dutch employers in 2014: - 0,5%

• Jobs are bundles of tasks, often change partially (studies McKinsey and recently OECD)

• There will be new jobs and tasks (imagination)

• Not everything can be automated (e.g. economist David Autor; examples Foxconn & Mercedes)

Discussion since the 1950s: AI versus IA

Technology doesn’t just happen to you

The future: an inclusive robot agenda“Digital investments need analog complements to ensure everyone will reap benefits” – Worldbank 2016

1. Invest in robots

• There are not enough robots: productivity and growth (Gordon)

• Heavy and drudgery work can be automated

• Coordination problems, first mover disadvantage

2. Complementarity is key: man with machine (co-bots)

• “Humans are underrated” (work that is human, or that shouldstay human)

• Organize co-creation (government can set examples)

• Also low-skilled work and lower incomes (Atkinson, MIT inclusive innovation contest, care sector, job carving)

3. Ownership of work

• Autonomy and control good for productivity

• Reduce stress, burn-out, increase well-being (happiness)

• “Don’t change workers into robots” (e.g. wearables)

4. New inequality issues

• Income: Job polarization, more low-skilled jobs (multiplier)

• Wealth: Who owns the robots owns the future (robot dividend)

• Loosers: Portfolio of measures to support people not able to cope(targeted “basic income”, supported jobs, early retirement)

Robert Went

@went1955

Questions? Comments?

Mastering the Robot download: www.wrr.nl