The ho-hum about technology taking jobs away is bothering experts but millennials don’t seem worried about it. This new generation of tech savvy individuals is creating a headache for experts, who have all their views turned topsy-turvy due to the millennial lifestyle. Now that artificial intelligence, chatbots, and robots are expected to finally begin a revolution in technology, experts worry about jobs being lost.
It is expected that the rise of artificial intelligence will cost a net loss of 5 million jobs in the US alone. While AI will create 2 million new jobs, it will also make 7 million jobs obsolete, leaving a huge gap of 5 million in the US workforce. These individuals will likely be doing jobs that will not be required in the future. In fact, many of the 2 million new jobs are those that have never been heard before. The world must get ready for these new job roles and titles, which were never expected before.
Do the Millennials care?
There is no doubt that millennials love technology. This generation has grown with social media at their fingerprints and quickly adopts new advancements in technology. They do not feel technology will take jobs away from them. In fact, an average millennial is more optimistic about technology, hoping that it would open a new world of employment opportunities for them.
It’s also unrealistic to feel like millennials would be averse to technology and AI becoming more and more sophisticated, when most of the pop culture from their childhood has prepared them for this very thing. Fantasy films like Back to the Future and other similar media have shown a vision of the future that is completely automated, but beautifully functioning. In these idealistic depictions, humans live their lives in comfort and ease, while technology takes care of everything around them. The rise of AI has people envisioning a similar future, and it’s hence fair to assume that millennials will embrace and adapt to this change rather than defy it.
Already, the advancements in technology have made life easier for those in the echelons who can avail it. With things like smart home technology, the way in which technology is making a difference in everyday functioning is already apparent. The concept of home security has long since evolved from guard dogs, to burglar alarms, and now to smart home features and extensions. Artificial intelligence has now helped in countless ways, and already it’s become an indispensable part of people’s daily lives. Understanding the generation gap between millennials who have not been in the workforce for very long, and the experts commenting on it, is necessary to understand why there is no major aversion to this sort of technological advancement.
The millennials are a stressed generation. Student loans have already burdened them and reduced their prospects of being able to start a family with good means. The millennial consistently worries about the payments he must make. Companies like SoFi try to make the whole process a lot less stressful and ensure that anyone taking out a student loan doesn’t have to spend their time in education worrying. On top of these factors, the regular job market has not fully understood or exploited the strengths of this generation. In fact, many experts suggest that millennials are spoiling work cultures as they do not fit into regular office norms.
Studies show that an average millennial can spend up to 18 hours a day, hooked to any digital device. It is impossible, hence, to find a workplace that demands a Millennials attention without using these digital devices. Experts are baffled about millennial employee management. They are more prone to job-hopp g, but want job security and safe work environments at the same time. Technology has changed the millennial brain in many ways. This generation demands a different work environment, must be given different kinds of tasks to accomplish and the management of their successes and achievements is beyond the boundaries of a typical workspace.
In such a scenario, a millennial only wants to use technology to get things done. They are not afraid of using apps and programs for accomplishing tasks. In fact, artificial intelligence and robots are concepts that excite them. However, this clinical addiction to technology may not be all good. Millennials are finding it harder to communicate with people in real life. In fact, a shrinking frontal lobe is making the millennial brain less likely to remember events and more likely to lose control of their emotions. In the wake of these studies, it has become essential to find ways to make technology a less daunting concept. The social and economic effects of technology can outweigh its pros.