According to a report on the results of a World Economic Forum (WEF) survey conducted across 15 economies that “account for approximately 65 per cent of the world’s total workforce”, robots and artificial intelligence technology will eliminate 7.1 million jobs over the next five years. The new technologies will, however, create 2 million “new positions” which will “offset” this loss.
But, according to the report, most of the jobs that will be lost are in the administrative sectors where work involves “routine tasks”. The new positions expected to be created by these new technologies will likely involve different skills. As such, it is likely that displaced workers will not necessarily be readily available to fill them.
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The “Future of Jobs” report concluded that jobs would be displaced in every industry, although the impact would vary considerably, with the biggest negative losses likely to be in healthcare, reflecting the rise of telemedicine, followed by energy and financial services.
At the same time, however, there will be a growing demand for certain skilled workers, including data analysts and specialist sales representatives.
The Philippines currently depends on a vast army of overseas foreign workers (OFWs) to prop up its economy. Up to 10% of the value of its national output is accounted for by the remittances of these OFWs to their families that remain in this impoverished nation. More than 2 million OFWs are deployed across the Middle East, Europe, and North America and are employed mainly by businesses in the service industries.
This recent WEF report highlights the inherent risk in this dependency on labour-added-value as the primary driver of a national economy. Already, a significant portion of this OFW labour force is at risk as Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia which traditionally absorbed hundreds of thousands of OFWs experience economic pressure thanks to crashing crude oil prices. Downward pressure on global oil prices can also be partly atttributed to technological developments — in energy sourcing and harnessing as well as in machines that use alternative sources of fuel (such as electric cars).
Considering the way technological development tends to follow an exponential rate of increase with adoption keeping pace at the same rate, it is important that governments of countries such as the Philippines where employment opportunity originates mainly from overseas or from foreign investments start to formulate strategies to meet these coming challenges.
benign0 is the Webmaster of GetRealPhilippines.com.
Article related: https://www.rt.com/news/318088-robots-wealth-capitalism-hawking/
Also, reminds me of The Animatrix dual episode The Second Renaissance.
Why lament the Filipinos? Against what are they afraid?
PNOY’s, which have to live in the “mental medieval” nevertheless feel very comfortable.
I was married to a Filipina.
What I experienced during my time was unbelievable for me as a European.
A so closed-minded, ignorant and unwilling to learn people I have not yet encountered.
All of this combined with an exaggerated national pride, which has no rational basis.
2012 planned my company in the Philippines to invest.
A wind turbine park and a biological waste processing with methane gas production.
For this purpose, the establishment of a vocational school was required to qualify appropriate personnel.
As a result, from 2000 to 2500 permanent jobs for Filipinos would have been created.
The entire project was thwarted by the Filipino and bigotry on the Philippine main disease of corruption.
As long as the Philippines to change their medieval laws, as the ratio of 40/60 in bussines, and as long as it is not possible for foreigners to own company to conduct as long as the investors and businessmen are absent. And thus the creation of jobs.
The fear of robots, which is reducing the jobs only a half-truth.
Service areas are not affected, especially when it comes to the repair of high technology and robots.
But for that one needs highly qualified professionals, according to European standards.
And no moderately educated eaten by human imagination.
“A so closed-minded, ignorant and unwilling to learn people I have not yet encountered.”
I have the same experiences. And it doesnt get any better.
My former pinay GF, once told me “to know too much, can be dangerous”. I really think that that is the crux of all evil. The Filipino culture is too strong and too powerfull to progress, to evolve and to improve the individual. Knowledge, based on facts, is not accepted and not tolerated in the Philippines. Bahala na.
Failippinos are stuck in their delusions that everything will fix itself as long as they believe in their pretentious religion, empty “Pinoy Pride,” and their uncanny abilities to bullshit everybody.
@Aeta,
“Failippinos are stuck in their delusions that everything will fix itself as long as they believe in their pretentious religion, empty “Pinoy Pride,” and their uncanny abilities to bullshit everybody.”
Is it so hard to understand for people that if a household has an income of 100 units that its far better to have as few people in that household in order to have a better (read: more comfortable) life?
Is it so hard to understand for people that god or allah or buddha will not fix ones problem?
I understand that Mr. Grimwald do believe in the power of prayer/praying. I really hope he will be proud of letting a terminal ill patient be fully cured fully thanks and credited to all his praying. And if that is possible, I will tell the doctor to resign immediately. Well, I will at least stop paying the doctor his salary.
I sympathize with those who will lose their jobs, nguni’t iyon ay sariling katangian ng globalization at progress. Samakatuwid, liberalizing the economy and upgrading one’s skills and knowledge is the long-term solution.
Humans Need Not Apply
Japan is allocating a large budget in the development of Robots, and Artificial Intelligence Beings. It is because of the increase of their aging population.
The Prototype Robot/Artificial Intelligence Being works as a Nurse and Nurses Aide.
In manufacturing; there are many displaced workers in the Auto Industry. It is because, they are replaced by Robots and Artificial Intelligence Beings, who do the job.
Robots/Artificial Intelligence Beings work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They don’t take breaks. Or demand for better pay. They don’t ask for benefits or vacations.
They are not interested to get promoted.
However, these Robots/Artificial Intelligence Beings need Technical People to program and maintain/repair them.
So, the good job in the future is to understand: Robotic Technology; Program Artificial Intelligence; and Research/Development in the field of Electronics, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. In the field of Science and Technology; the future is bright. If you want to become an OFW; you will be in demand.
Assembly jobs, or manual jobs have no future. So, the OFW program of the Philippines may soon be phased out.
Even going as far as the entertainment sphere?
https://youtu.be/egcfC7PCneQ
The Research and Development of Apple Computers are already in the Entertainment Industry. So are, the Silicon Valley companies in California. They are in the process of producing a good 3 dimensional movies, that are better.
You will enjoy a movie, in Virtual Reality, that is, as if you are one of the participants.
The Research for Holographics, are in fast phased.
Good-bye call center industry.
No future for call centers…
A lot of call centers are semi-automated already, even though they try to keep this a secret and make workers sign non-disclosure agreements. Workers just click on pre-recorded responses because the customers they’re bothering find it less annoying to speak to an American-sounding robot than a flesh and blood Filipino.
No future for the whole Failippines except the prospect of more graft, corruption, and impoverished way of life for the rest of the population.
Unless, the people of the Philippines, will wake up. Elect good leaders, who will usher them into the 21st century jobs. We will remain the basket case of Asia.
The Philippines is not lacking in talents, brains and skills. Some of the Filipinos are highly educated in Science and Technology.
We can win the Miss Universe. Why can’t we not win a Nobel Prize in Science and Technology?
Most of the educated and brainy Filipinos go abroad, and do not come back to the Philippines.
Brain drain is prevalent in the Philippines. This is the regretful state of the country.
That is the problem in the Failippines: there are no good leaders. Most of your candidates have political and economic aspirations, are well connected, and the only ones who have a chance of winning. Those who sincerely want to lift the country out of its miserable state, without having personal motives, are not politically/economically connected, and have no chance of winning.
The Failippines may not be lacking in talent and brain, but the Failipinos are definitely lacking in moral values of doing what is rigth, and the spirit of cooperativeness and trust among themselves. You cannot successfully run a country that way when everyone has a self-serving outlook in life.
We won the last Miss Universe contest because Donald Trump is the main sponsor of this pageant, and he happens to own a new tower in the Failippines. It’s uncanny how the three (the Miss Universe, Donald Trump, and the Failippines) are suspiciously tied with each other.
Most of the educated go abroad to look out for their best interest. I suspect most Failipinos would rather live elsewhere than the Failippines if given the chance. The country is a pure ‘Hell Hole.”
Brain drain is definitely prevalent in the Failippines; but moral values and principle, spirit of cooperativeness, natural resources, and all opportunities have also been drained from this failed country by the very same people who call themselves Failipinos.
@Aeta,
can you please help me try to understand something?
My ex pinay partner graduated from USJ-R (University San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu City). In my country, a university (any university) is the highest form of education one can attend. In no way and never she displayed (flaunt) her knowledge let alone her general knowledge (common sense, common knowledge). Secondly, when one graduates from a university, he/she is trained and educated for policy-making jobs and not for executive jobs (like for instance factory workers). She always worked/works as a teacher (clearly an executive job and not a policy making job).
Or is it almost always the case that daughters want to follow in the foot steps of their mothers? (her mother was also a – state – teacher)
Does the name university have a different definition in the Philippines (compared to my country? Maybe with a simple high school (secondary education level)?
Robert Haighton,
Higher learning in the Failippines may have been a respectable institution about four or five decades ago, when students really have to keep up with the rigorous academic demands in order to stay in school; or, be kicked out and settle for vocational schools or take their chances in the job market. Today, universities—or colleges (the name is just a misnomer, depending on how prestigious the founders of these academic institution want to project themselves) are sprouting out all over the country, will almost guarantee to enroll and graduate the students, as long as they continue to pay their tuitions. Education is big business in the Failippines.
Failippine universitites and colleges have turned into a “Diploma Mill” of some sort, offering every conceivable programs possible, and try to graduate as many students in order to keep up their revenues. The final product is a student who is armed with a “dime a dozen” degree, without being much academic and common sense smarter. I do not believe female students in today’s Failippine universities/colleges are pursuing teaching degrees, like what their mothers did generations earlier. If anything, today’s Failipino students (both male and female) are pursuing degrees that will give them a chance to try to work overseas (mainly in health-care, engineering, and computer related fields), but the majority ends up working at call centers in the Failippines because it’s the only job that pays above minimum.
I hope I’ve answered your question(s).
Aeta
@Aeta,
I think you did answer my question(s) but only partly.
In Facebook accounts, I saw young people’s (below the age of 17/18) “About” section in which they claim they were/are attending university X, Y or Z in the Philippines.
In my country the youngest person being able to enroll at any university is 17 or 18 (after he/she finished his Atheneum or Gymnasium education. The differernce between those 2 are that Latin and Greek are taught in Gymnasium).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnasium_(school)#Netherlands
In the Netherlands, gymnasium is the highest variant of secondary education, offering the academically most promising youngsters (top 5%) a quality education that is in most cases free (and in other cases at low cost). It consists of six years, after 8 years (including kindergarten) of primary school, in which pupils study the same subjects as their German counterparts, with the addition of compulsory Ancient Greek, Latin and Klassieke Culturele Vorming, Classical Cultural Education, history of the Ancient Greek and Roman culture and literature. Schools have some freedom in choosing their specific curriculum, with for example Spanish, Philosophy and “Technasium”, a very technical and highly demanding course, being available as final exams. Usually schools will have all classes mandatory in switching combinations for the first three or so years (with the exception of Technasium which is a free choice from the second year onwards), after which students will choose their subjects in the directions of Economics and Society, Culture and Society, Nature and Health, Nature and Technology or Technology. The equivalent without classical languages is called Atheneum, and gives access to the same university studies (although some extra classes are needed when starting a degree in classical languages or theology). All are government-funded. See VWO for the full article on Dutch “preparatory scientific education”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnasium_(school)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheneum_(school).
After reading this, I hope you can imagine that I will never allow any of my kids (if any) to enroll at any PH school. Not only based on what I read here but also together with my experiences with my ex pinay GF.
Robert Haighton,
I can understand your sentiment about not enrolling your kids in a PH school. Two of my three children are a product of this “Diploma Mill” system and, I can tell you this much, their English communication skills (in spite of the fact that Failipinos like to brag that they are very proficient in English) leaves a lot of room for improvement—especially with the advent of “Taglish” in the daily vernacular of this country. English education in the Failippines is just not what it used to be prior to the 1980s (about the same decade when this stupid “Taglish” became the popular form of communication), when strict adherence to English grammar rules, writing, and speaking skills were enforced.
As for 17 and 18 years old attending universities/colleges, the answer to that question is the 10 years of total grade school education that has been applied throughout the whole country for decades. So kids are able to graduate at 16 years old after completing what is only equivalent to the 10th grade education in other countries. The government have since increased it to the 12th grade because many of these students were migrating to other countries (mainly the U.S.), and have not met all of the educational requirements of their respective host countries.
Personally, I don’t believe an additional two years of grade school will make any difference if these Failipino kids are just going to be immersed in long hours of useless courses to justify their long hours in school and homework assignments (with no sports in-between because it doesn’t beef up revenues for the schools), with not much to show for it except the ability to memorize information and how to stay awake in completing their assignments. When it comes to correct English (or Tagalog) usage and critical/situational analysis skills, the Failippine school system still sucks at teaching their kids these important academic tools, which, in my mind, is a strategic move by the government to dumb the population down.
Aeta
@Aeta,
I think you nailed it with your very last line: “… is a strategic move by the government to dumb the population down.”
BUT since people like yourself are aware of that, is it not about time to demand change? I have heard about the K-12 but is that the miracle all of you were waiting for? With all those PH women/men being and getting connected with foreigners through the internet, for sure a few must wake up and get aware there is a huge difference (in education/curriculum/knowledge).
I have no idea in which year my EX graduated from USJ-R (most likely mid or late 1990s) but still I was baffled and flabbergasted how little she knew (both in the academical/scientifical department as in the “common knowledge” department).
In my neck of the woods, we want to be proud of our partners (wife/girlfriend or husband/boyfriend) but I really dont know in/for which part I could have been proud of her. Isnt that sad?
Robert Haighton,
I’ve stopped waiting for miracles from the Failippines. Any perceived change that comes from this country is either short-lived or comes with a high cost that makes one wonder if it’s worth the trouble to begin with.
Failipinas hooking up with foreigners is an aeon-old story that has no ending. I guess these Failipinos, generally speaking, will do everything within their power to do to make it in this world. I just wish my people would do whatever it is they do with their country’s best interest in mind at all times, so our future generations will not have to inherit the destructive legacies of their deeds.
Again, in spite of how high we Failipinos regard ourselves as being educated, we are still deliberately choosing to be ignorant of what is really going on in our country and amongst ourselves, on how negative the world really sees us, and the delusional ways we want to see ourselves.
Most of us Failipinos have these grand delusions that we are “world class” materials because we are educated, hard-working, spread out all over the world,and very shrewd when dealing with others. Yet, in spite of all these exagerrated personal qualities that make up our arrogant “Pinoy Pride,” we still manage to have it backfired by destroying our relationships with one another and our own country.
I would gladly give up these highly regarded personal qualities that makes up my people’s attitude and way of life, at a chance for all us to do an honest self-analysis–and actually follow through with an effor to change–on how to be more genuinely humble and compassionate toward our nation and people. I believe these two important qualities (compassion and humility) are the two important ingredients missing in the hearts of my people, and what makes all of us Failipinos.
Aeta
@Aeta,
you dont sound very optimistic nor positive.
Anyway, pls dont pin your hopes on your government. I really dont expect much of/from them. They (the key politicians) dont give a damn about you and your people. And to be honest, I do understand them (in a way).
The PH population is an easy target, an easy victim to screw (over) (pardon me my French).
The way I see it is that the PH government is much more powerful, stronger, tougher, meaner than the people. The politicians are not afraid of you. The people are not their equals. By starting to become more social, the key politicians will lose too much.
Its up to you (= the PH population/people) to turn the tables. At the end of the day, the PH population do have the key to change everything. And that key is not a physical, violent, armed revolution.
Robert Haignton,
I’m not optimistic at all when it comes to the Failippines and Failipinos. Optimism only reinforces my people’s aristocratic attitude and self-serving way of life, and it makes them feel they are doing a great job for their country and each other. Well…we all know better than that.
What my people–and perhaps also many foreigners who are affiliated with the Failippines and Failipinos–need is an “in your face” approach on the harsh reality of life in this country and our pretensious relationships with one another—which is all of our undoing.
If I say (write) less than that what I’ve said on this website, I’ll only be lying to myself and blowing smoke in your direction and anyone else who reads my comments.
I’m trying to turn the table around now by pouring the proverbial “ice bucket” challenge on my people–elites or the general population–that they are ultimately at fault of destroying their own country and each other, by turning the other check on what’s going, pretending everything is all right their endless optimism and prayer, and washing their hands of any wrongdoings.
I say if you call yourself a Failipinos–in any shape or form, including myself–we are ultimately at fault on why our country is “fucked up” (forgive my French), because we bought into the “bullshit” that everybody is selling (again, forgive my French; it’s part of my “in your face” approach).
Aeta
@Aeta,
okay, you are very clear in your “in your face” approach. I really hope it’ll work.
Everytime when I was dead honest (equals your “in your face” approach), all it brought me was “you are harsh, too straight forward, blunt” (by my then pinay GF).
For a while, I can play the act “wow, the weather is nice” (diplomacy is not my best asset) but I cant hold that act up for too long. And it goes against my nature.
When I see something good and beautiful, I will say it. But when I see something stupid, I will call it stupid.
I cant repeat it enough about the things I like(d) most about the Philippines (Cebu). That are the climate and low cost of living. And that is not much. For the rest it was about getting frustrated about how things are run and done.
Robert Haighton,
That is the thing about the Failippines. You will never get tired of the place because it is beautiful (at least until the Failipinos allow their own country to be turned into a ‘concrete wasteland’ and jack up the cost of living for everyone), but you will eventually get tired of the people’s aristocratic and self-serving attitude and behavior.
The Failipinos make the Failippines beautiful or ugly; and, from the way things have been going in the last 3 or 4 decades, this country is fast-becoming a ‘hell-hole’ by the very same people who say they love their own country and people.
If that’s the case, optimism and encouragement is the last thing the Failipinos need. I know being blunt and “calling spade as spade” is not what my people want to hear, because it rattles their mental cages; but, it’s definitely what the country needs to keep itself from being destroyed by its own people.
Aeta
@Aeta,
do you have some kind of role-model or somebody you look up to or respect so much that you would like to be in his/her shoes (not from a jelouse or envy point of view) but bec that certain individual has so much that you like and you know you want too but not aware you already have it in you?
Or do you just live according to your own “rules” and goals/objectives?
Do you have a set of rules that goes so against the culture of your family, against the culture of your street/barangay/country bec you know your rules are the only ones that assures you of getting a comfortable life? In other words: you live your life in which you tell the world: “go fuck yourself” (pardon me my Spanish)?
And I am not refering to what I saw myself while being in Cebu. The public transport is a effing mess, cars overtaking other cars from the right side, cars constantly blowing their horns, walking funeral processions.
Robert Haighton,
My role model is anyone who makes the effort to save this planet,and the people who live in, from being destroyed by our own hands—and that includes the Failippines and Filipinos from all aspects.
Aeta
@Aeta,
That is a huge, big assignment for any role model. Therefore, I can never be your role model (pinoy or no pinoy).
I am saving my own little corner of my own planet but I cant take everybody with me on my back. I am not Noah’s arch.
I have about 80 to 90 years to live, most of that time will be spend on (school), working, leisure time, friends and some idle time.
If each individual would contribute to make and keep the earth/planet clean then we already won a battle (but not the war yet). Followed by quit procreating in the fast pace as it happens today then we won another battle.
The climate change is not only a matter of changing the mode of energy from fussil fuels to alternative modes like solar energy, wind turbines and hydro energy. But also the increasing number of people roaming this planet. They all want/need food, shelter, education and energy (electricity, heat, clean water).
My country’s population is already decreasing. What about the Philippines’ population?
@Aeta,
The global population need to decrease for the fact what is written in this article. We cakt keep on fucking (= procreating) the way we are doing. There will never be enough jobs for all of us.
So not only from an energy point of view (including food) but also from the supply side of jobs point of view.
Now what do I expect for your country:
– if and when (the overwhelming majority of) people in your country keep on procreating, your country will get poorer and poorer;
Please inform your fellow female country people to be more careful when they have sex. And pls point them about the negative consequences.
Thanks,
Robert
I believe that at the end of the century the use of words and general educated opinion will have altered so much that one will be able to speak of machines thinking without expecting to be contradicted.
Now this is interesting
http://www.nature.com/news/google-ai-algorithm-masters-ancient-game-of-go-1.19234
I like machines. They don’t cheat, steal, like gossip, complain or refuse to obey. Unlike people.