The national conversation about artificial intelligence has gathered significant pace over the last few months and, like many discussions about technology, the subject at hand is evolving rapidly.
So while it’s well and good to be fascinated by and talk about AI – and it is important for policy-makers and society at large to do this – we do need to make clear a path forward.
Acknowledging that there are a range of opinions in this space is critical. It is my belief that in harnessing any technology – whether it be artificial intelligence, automated manufacturing processes or indeed any kind of machinery – we need to ensure that nobody is left behind and that governments have capacity to support those whose means of employment may be challenged and displaced by technology.
Yes, there are enormous opportunities for our economy if we embrace technology and yes, there are risks to workers too. There are important applications in healthcare and service settings, with less efficient processes and repetitive work able to be automated in ways that add value to workers’ time, wellbeing and overall productivity. But we mustn’t be naive to think that all opportunities are equal for everyone in the space of technology.
Automation processes in manufacturing and warehousing have been implemented for some time now, and remain a difficult challenge for workers who have relied on this work. Thankfully, there is greater understanding of the importance of life-long learning, of industry planning and ways to engage in redeployment in communities that mean that the outcomes may not be as devastating as they once were. However, we must be students of history. I recall distinctly the creep of automation into Australian warehouses, which was something that had already been witnessed around the world. I remember in a former job sitting with workers whose long-term jobs, in an area ravaged with high unemployment, were rapidly being replaced by robots. A longitudinal study undertaken by the Australian Catholic University following this change found workers both struggled to find jobs that paid them as well, and that were secure jobs. Clearly, this outcome was negative for this community; not just for workers but for their families, and the local economy.
We cannot think that AI does not too pose a threat to livelihoods and communities. And we also need to consider the particular cohorts – diverse as they are – that are being impacted by technological transformation.
I am proud to be a part of a government – with the largest number of women in history – that understands the importance of closing the gender pay gap and recognising the value of feminised sectors and jobs such as care and service work. It does seem a bit perverse though, that at the moment in history when jobs that require empathy and human understanding are beginning to be remunerated and appreciated appropriately, we are seeing the displacement of this work by robots through AI.
The Finance Sector Union and the Australian Services Union – both which represent large feminised cohorts – have identified the particular gendered nature of worker displacement by AI. Replacing stressful emotionally labourious tasks can obviously benefit workers in industries with customer facing roles, and this may end up being a desirable efficiency at a point in time. But governments, employers, workers and communities need to be actively engaged in a conversation of what the future of work looks like. I do think that the displacement and re-training and redeployment of workers in traditionally male dominated industries is better understood as a journey than what we are seeing in female dominated industries. Largely, I think it is because the path tread of technical displacement in manufacturing (for instance) has been more well-worn historically. That is not to say that we have discharged all responsibilities to that cohort of workers or that there aren’t opportunities to embrace to benefit us all in manufacturing in the future.
But I do think it is important and, in fact, necessary to have a conversation about the future of work, about technology, about skills and training. What is the role of government? What is the role of employers? How can our economy and our region benefit from innovation? What are the challenges? I have been disappointed that different ideas about arguably the largest technological development at the moment has been treated as evidence of disunity or conflict. I hold the belief that Australians want their elected representatives to explore ideas and to have deep conversations about what might be the best path forward for our lives and livelihoods. I therefore think it is a good think to ventilate ideas, to raise questions and to explore a range of perspectives. I embrace curiosity.
The pace of change is so rapid in this space it does make it tricky to think of what might need to be considered in the future. One thing I do believe is clear is this: technological advancement is here, and we must ensure that it works for everyone to have a better future, with nobody left behind.
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