How humans will stay competitive in the age of artificial intelligence

Experts offer differing views about where advances in artificial intelligence are leading us to in the long term. However they mostly agree that in the short term we have to get ready for an era where AI accounts for most routine jobs previously thought to be the exclusive domain of human intelligence.

This does not mean that humans will run out of jobs—yet. What it does mean, however, is that the dynamics governing the employment landscape are rapidly shifting. Humans will have to become smarter and much faster at obtaining knowledge and acquiring the skills required to perform tasks that have not fallen prey to automation.

Here are some of the trends that are helping us (humans) maintain our edge in a world that is fast being taken over by robots.

Augmented reality

Augmented reality, the real-time overlaying of graphical elements on real world imagery, is still in its infancy. Yet much more than games and entertainment, AR is promising to be the computing platform of professional work.

Many industries are using AR to augment efficiency and productivity in of professional settings. By using AR glasses or headsets, engineers, healthcare workers, industry workers, and professionals in many other fields will be able to see real-time information and instructions about the task they’re performing while keeping their hands free to do the job.

For instance, as the following video shows, an AR glass boosts a technician’s speed by 34% when wiring a wind turbine’s control box because it replaces paper manuals with line-of-sight instructions.

Experts offer differing views about where advances in artificial intelligence are leading us to in the long term. However they mostly agree that in the short term we have to get ready for an era where AI accounts for most routine jobs previously thought to be the exclusive domain of human intelligence.

This does not mean that humans will run out of jobs—yet. What it does mean, however, is that the dynamics governing the employment landscape are rapidly shifting. Humans will have to become smarter and much faster at obtaining knowledge and acquiring the skills required to perform tasks that have not fallen prey to automation.

Here are some of the trends that are helping us (humans) maintain our edge in a world that is fast being taken over by robots.

Augmented reality

Augmented reality, the real-time overlaying of graphical elements on real world imagery, is still in its infancy. Yet much more than games and entertainment, AR is promising to be the computing platform of professional work.

Many industries are using AR to augment efficiency and productivity in of professional settings. By using AR glasses or headsets, engineers, healthcare workers, industry workers, and professionals in many other fields will be able to see real-time information and instructions about the task they’re performing while keeping their hands free to do the job.

For instance, as the following video shows, an AR glass boosts a technician’s speed by 34% when wiring a wind turbine’s control box because it replaces paper manuals with line-of-sight instructions.

Whether robots will obey humans forever, fight and eradicate them or drive them into slavery remains to be seen. In the meantime we need to make the best of the technology that surrounds us.