I’ve been a strict vegetarian for quite some time now, in fact, well before it became what I call a trendy “fashionised” hashtag, and before anyone thought of printing t-shirts proclaiming their dietary lifestyles as either being vegan or vegetarian. However, I do live in sin and love a good pizza. So when I stumbled across the most convenient temptation ever, I was gobsmacked to find Pizza Rebellion (a smart vending machine) in Brighton. I was over the moon!
You see, Pizza Rebellion was conceptualized during the difficulties faced during that awful time we hopefully dare not repeat, called the “Lockdown.” As a tech enthusiast for all things futuristic, I was amazed by the ingenuity, the strategy, the convenience, not to mention the taste—because as you may have guessed…”Yes,” I tried the vegan pizza, which, by the way, didn’t disappoint!
But anything gained comes with a loss, so here are the pros and cons:
Potential Job Losses:
Pizza Makers: Traditional pizza makers or cooks who prepare and bake pizzas in restaurants would likely see a reduction in demand. A smart vending machine can prepare pizzas without human intervention, which could lead to job loss for those in the cooking and food preparation roles.
Cashiers: Vending machines usually operate with minimal or no human interaction, which could reduce the need for cashiers or workers who handle the ordering and payment process at traditional pizza shops.
Delivery Drivers: If Pizza Rebellion operates as a standalone vending machine in locations, it could reduce the need for delivery drivers, as the pizza is dispensed immediately in the machine, removing the delivery step in the process.
Potential Job Gains:
Machine Maintenance and Support: Vending machines, especially automated ones like Pizza Rebellion, require maintenance, repair, and technical support. Jobs in fields like machine servicing, software engineering, and system support could be created to ensure the machine operates efficiently.
Data Analysts and Engineers: If Pizza Rebellion gathers data about customers’ preferences or operational efficiency, there could be demand for data analysts, AI developers, and engineers to optimize performance, improve user experience, and manage logistics.
Sales and Marketing: There would likely be a demand for marketing and sales professionals to promote the vending machine, attract new customers, and develop partnerships with locations to place the machines.
Manufacturing Jobs: The production of the smart vending machine itself would create jobs in manufacturing, assembly, and logistics to produce and distribute the machines.
Don’t get me wrong… I’m not disregarding smart vending machines; in fact, just feet away was an ice cream vending machine as well. But when do we draw the line, and how do we balance the influx of automation causing a huge catastrophic loss of traditional “human” workers?
Well, here’s my strategy, which can be addressed with thoughtful strategies that focus on reskilling, economic adaptation, and policy intervention:
1. Invest in Reskilling and Upskilling
The Challenge: Automation may replace certain low-skilled or routine jobs, but new opportunities will arise that require different skill sets. The key to mitigating job loss is helping workers transition to these new roles.
Strategy:
Government and Private Sector Collaboration: Governments and businesses can partner to create reskilling programmes that focus on teaching the skills required for new jobs in tech, AI, and automation.
Vocational Training: Support vocational education that focuses on digital literacy, programming, AI management, and other high-demand fields.
Lifelong Learning: Encourage and facilitate continuous learning, with platforms offering flexible courses that allow workers to learn while employed.
2. Creating New Jobs through Technological Advancement
The Challenge: As automation increases, some industries may see job reductions. However, new technologies typically create new markets and job opportunities that didn’t exist before.
Strategy:
Tech-Driven Job Creation: AI, robotics, and other automation technologies often lead to the creation of entirely new job categories—think about the rise of AI specialists, data scientists, machine learning engineers, and cybersecurity experts.
Support for Startups and Innovation: Encouraging entrepreneurship and startups in automation, sustainability, and other emerging fields will lead to the creation of new businesses and, therefore, new jobs.
Green and Sustainable Jobs: As industries look to become more sustainable, automation and innovation can drive demand for jobs in clean energy, eco-friendly manufacturing, and environmental tech.
3. Universal Basic Income (UBI) or Social Safety Nets
The Challenge: If automation leads to mass unemployment in certain sectors, there will be a need to ensure that those who lose their jobs are still able to meet their basic needs.
Strategy:
Universal Basic Income (UBI): Some experts advocate for a UBI, where the government provides all citizens with a basic income to cover essential living costs, reducing economic inequality.
Enhanced Social Safety Nets: Strengthen unemployment benefits, universal healthcare, and training subsidies to support workers during their transition into new roles.
4. Promote Human-Centric Roles
The Challenge: Many jobs that are hardest to automate—such as those requiring creativity, empathy, and complex problem-solving—are still highly valuable.
Strategy:
Human-Centric Industries: Focus on sectors like healthcare, education, social work, creative industries, and customer service, where human interaction, empathy, and personal touch are essential.
Workplace Collaboration: Foster a collaborative relationship between humans and machines, where humans oversee and work alongside AI, rather than being replaced by it. For example, AI might assist doctors in diagnosing diseases, but human doctors are still needed to provide care and make judgment calls.
5. Implementing Ethical AI Policies
The Challenge: The pace of automation may outstrip the development of policies that ensure fair and ethical AI implementation, risking displacement without adequate compensation or safety measures.
Strategy:
Governance and Regulation: Governments should regulate automation to ensure that it’s implemented in a way that benefits society as a whole, preventing monopolistic practices and ensuring that the wealth generated by automation is shared.
AI Ethics: Develop ethical frameworks for AI deployment, ensuring that automation doesn’t disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
6. Creating Flexible Work and Transitioning Support
The Challenge: As industries automate, workers may find it difficult to shift between jobs or industries.
Strategy:
Job Transition Assistance: Companies and governments can offer career counseling, job matching services, and temporary income support to workers transitioning between roles or industries.
Flexible Work Models: Promote remote work, freelance opportunities, and gig economy roles that allow workers to adapt to changing job markets and new technology.
7. Fostering a Growth Mindset in Society
The Challenge: Fear and resistance to change can hinder adaptation to automation, especially among workers who feel their jobs are under threat.
Strategy:
Cultural Shift: Promote the idea that automation can augment human potential rather than replace it. Encourage a growth mindset, where society sees the potential for new opportunities rather than focusing on the loss of traditional roles.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Launch initiatives to raise awareness about the benefits of automation—from improved work-life balance to the potential for more fulfilling jobs in the long run.
Balancing Automation with Human Workers: A Long-Term Strategy
The balance will ultimately come from proactive planning and collaboration between governments, businesses, and workers. Focusing on education, policy, and new job creation is key to ensuring that automation enhances human life rather than causing widespread hardship. A holistic approach can ensure that automation leads to a more efficient, sustainable, and equitable society.
