Will the Need for Human Labor be Eradicated by Technology?

An overview of "Talent Will Matter More." by Rishad Tobaccowala.

One common concern with the rise of technology, especially ones as quickly developing and adapting as ours currently, is whether jobs will be completely taken over and human labor will not be needed to run our society anymore. The rise of certain AIs such as ChatGPT and Big Tech’s bots has led to an image of robots controlling society and diminishing the need for humans. However, in response, Rishad Tobaccowala, an advisor focusing on growth and productivity in businesses, provides insight into why this is not the case, and why humans and talent are more important than ever.

He summarizes the theme into 6 main points:

1. Embrace technology:

   1. Tobaccowala describes the idea of using technology as leverage for further productivity. While one individual can achieve great things, and so can technology, by combining the power of both, further innovation can occur. By utilizing technology as a tool and a catalyst, humans can further prioritize growth. One example that he provides is making college classes available to the public through internet streaming. It is not only the streaming that makes the classes great but the people that teach them.

2. Complement technology:

   1. Technology contains extreme gaps. It cannot feel, it cannot determine right from wrong, and it does not have morals. We must not only embrace technology but acknowledge its faults and gaps that only humans and human talent can fill. With this, we can use technology for what it is, a tool, and use human talent to make the most efficient and meaningful outcomes.

3. Invest in learning:

   1. Certain technologies such as AI and social media are ever-evolving and will continue to develop at faster and faster paces. By investing in learning how technologies work, why they work, and the role they play in our society, we can learn how they can play optimal roles in the growth of our businesses and the world overall.

4. The future is carbon and digital:

   1. Interdisciplinarity is key. Combining soft skills with technology will prove to be the most efficient way to achieve meaning and intention with work. Eventually, everyone will have tech, but it will be the people with softer talent that will differentiate themselves from the rest. Tobaccowala uses the examples of “Art plus Science. Math plus Meaning. The Story and the Spreadsheet.”

5. Fixate on the talent:

   1. There is no denying that technology will take over many aspects of human labor, but it will take over the roles of people who do machine-like jobs. Talent will differentiate those who can be replaced and those who can’t, those who use technology to amplify their organic talent and knowledge.

6. Hone your talent:

   1. Many are born with talent, whether we know it or not, and we must practice and be imaginative in the ways that we can use this in tandem with technology to be successful. One must be well-rounded with many different skills to differentiate themselves from others with machine-like skills.

While these are brief summaries, and some may stray from the original author’s details, I found the key takeaway to be that talent will be the defining factor for success in the future. With technology and machines lacking certain aspects such as morals or including bias, it will be up to humans and individual personality to utilize technology to the greatest of its ability.

Cover image by Monograph on Dribbble.