Issue 40: How We Will Work in 2020
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. As we return to the office this week, we’re considering how the nature of work is evolving – Joseph Dana, Senior Editor
THE BIG TAKE
How We Will Work in 2020
Do you remember when eBooks were set to replace paper books? In 2010, most analysts forecast that Kindle e-readers and eBooks were going to change the course of human history forever by replacing traditional books made from paper. The benefits were clear: you could store thousands of books on an e-reader and you didn’t have to worry about paper being exposed to the elements. The only problem is that this revolution never happened. As we start a new decade, paper book sales are stronger than ever. E-readers have their place but most readers simply enjoy using both vehicles to discover literature.
E-readers and work: You might be thinking, what does this have to do with the way we work today? Well, the eBook revolution that never happened did augment our reading habits. Many people love using their Kindles at bedtime and prefer reading paper books during the day or vice versa. The technology behind e-readers transformed our reading habits instead of replacing them. This is exactly what’s taking place in the office today.
Will robots replace us? Many fear that advances in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) will render many jobs redundant. Far from the “robots coming for our jobs” panic, these advancements will have a similar effect that e-readers had on reading habits. They’ll augment the nature of our work by making some tasks easier and allowing us to focus on bigger, more important challenges. If you’re still sceptical, consider how the process has already begun in your office.
Better productivity: From the Slack messaging platform to predictive writing in Google services, automation has already changed the way we work. We’re able to communicate more efficiently. We’re able to collaborate more directly even when team members aren’t in the office. This is all possible thanks to innovations in automation, AI, and other technologies. The robots haven’t taken our jobs; they’ve just made us more productive while freeing up time for us to focus on the most important tasks. How will we work in 2020? The answer is simple: better productivity thanks to new technologies that will make our jobs more satisfying.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.”
F.M. Alexander, actor
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
How to fix bias in AI: The problem with bias in AI and advanced algorithms is not technical, it’s human. Those gifted programmers and coders that create the algorithms that guide our lives are the root (and solution) of the bias problem. This week, we considered ways to address the challenge of bias. Small states with large technology sectors such as the UAE have an advantage in addressing these challenges. Read more to find out why.
Best of 2019: Yes, we’re in a new decade and the holidays are now firmly behind us. But if you missed our roundups of the best pieces published by Xische Reports and in the wider media, now is your chance to have a look. From AI to blockchain and the luxury of paper in a digital world, there were many great pieces last year. Take a look at the big ideas that got us thinking
A Message From SquadX
The way we work is changing. Innovators must think outside the box and find solutions to the rapid production cycles of the digital age. Sometimes that means hitting the ground running with an expert team ready to deliver. Augmented, not outsourced, teams share knowledge across the organization, delivering dual benefits of speed and know-how while leadership stays focused on the larger issues at play. Discover what we’re doing at SquadX, a Xische company, to unlock results with the power of teams.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Productivity in Finland: We love unique ideas designed to kickstart productivity. Scandinavia seems to have a lot of them. Finland’s new prime minister, who happens to be 34 years old, has come up with a great way to shake up the workweek: Make it shorter. Prime Minister Sanna Marin has proposed that Finland move to a four-day workweek to boost productivity and cut carbon emissions. It might sound outlandish but as more of us work from home or purely online, this could be the way of the future.
Will China lead the next decade? China and the United States are locked in a long-term struggle over who will dominate our shared technological future. With so many pieces out there purporting to chart the future, it can be hard to find good material to get smart on this issue. Evan Osnos, a staff writer at The New Yorker, delivered one of the defining articles on the subject this week. If you want to get a handle on the next phase of the standoff between Beijing and Washington, look no further than this fantastic piece of reporting.