Arabic Podcast   The Work that Refuses to be Automated
Tamer El-Tonsy - Bayes
[{'start': '9.710', 'end': '13.430', 'text': 'Welcome, today we will dive into a topic that'}, {'start': '13.430', 'end': '16.750', 'text': 'concerns many people: work that may not be'}, {'start': '16.750', 'end': '17.510', 'text': 'automated.'}, {'start': '17.570', 'end': '19.990', 'text': 'Especially with all this development in'}, {'start': '19.990', 'end': '23.930', 'text': 'artificial intelligence, today we have an important article I found on LinkedIn'}, {'start': '23.930', 'end': '27.310', 'text': 'written by Tamer El-Tonsi, entitled The Work That Refuses to be'}, {'start': '27.310', 'end': '28.190', 'text': 'Automated.  We'}, {'start': '28.190', 'end': '31.369', 'text': 'want to understand why, even though'}, {'start': '31.369', 'end': '34.450', 'text': 'technology was said to enable us to do more important'}, {'start': '34.450', 'end': '39.310', 'text': 'and creative work, reality is sometimes different.'}, {'start': '39.310', 'end': '41.850', 'text': 'What are the human skills that machines have not yet'}, {'start': '41.850', 'end': '42.930', 'text': 'reached?'}, {'start': '42.930', 'end': '46.210', 'text': 'Okay, so the basic idea, as the article explains'}, {'start': '46.210', 'end': '49.250', 'text': 'very well, is that the systems and institutions we have'}, {'start': '49.250', 'end': '51.510', 'text': 'now mostly reward what?'}, {'start': '51.510', 'end': '56.250', 'text': 'It equates efficiency, speed, and accuracy, which are exactly the'}, {'start': '56.250', 'end': '58.870', 'text': 'things that artificial intelligence has become brilliant at.'}, {'start': '59.470', 'end': '62.670', 'text': 'But at the same time, the heart of the work itself has'}, {'start': '62.670', 'end': '66.370', 'text': "strong, deep human aspects that the machine simply doesn't"}, {'start': '66.370', 'end': '67.170', 'text': 'know how to do.'}, {'start': '67.170', 'end': '69.850', 'text': 'This is the paradox that the article correctly points to:'}, {'start': '69.850', 'end': '74.310', 'text': 'technology promised us something, but reality is not keeping up with it'}, {'start': '74.310', 'end': '77.430', 'text': 'very much, as if there is a missing link.'}, {'start': '77.630', 'end': '80.710', 'text': 'Exactly, the article says that the mistake, or rather the'}, {'start': '80.710', 'end': '83.630', 'text': 'misunderstanding, is that we designed these systems'}, {'start': '83.630', 'end': '86.310', 'text': 'to reward what machines are good at, not what'}, {'start': '86.310', 'end': '88.190', 'text': 'we humans are naturally good at.'}, {'start': '88.190', 'end': '92.250', 'text': "It's as if we are unintentionally automating"}, {'start': '92.250', 'end': '95.490', 'text': 'our work values. We focus on efficiency and speed more'}, {'start': '95.490', 'end': '98.450', 'text': 'than necessary, perhaps at the expense of human depth. Do you understand'}, {'start': '98.450', 'end': '98.910', 'text': '?  The'}, {'start': '98.910', 'end': '102.450', 'text': 'idea of \u200b\u200bautomating values \u200b\u200balone is a bit scary, honestly.'}, {'start': '102.450', 'end': '104.450', 'text': 'One can see examples of it around him.'}, {'start': '104.510', 'end': '107.630', 'text': 'This is where a framework proposed by'}, {'start': '107.630', 'end': '111.970', 'text': 'MIT researchers Isabella Loalza and Roberto Rigobon, called'}, {'start': '111.970', 'end': '112.470', 'text': 'EPOCH, becomes particularly important.'}, {'start': '113.390', 'end': '117.170', 'text': 'This is an abbreviation for five groups of human capabilities'}, {'start': '117.170', 'end': '119.790', 'text': 'that machines, no matter how advanced, are still not'}, {'start': '119.790', 'end': '120.390', 'text': 'truly capable of.'}, {'start': '120.390', 'end': '126.930', 'text': 'Empathy and emotional intelligence, authentic human presence and connection, the ability'}, {'start': '126.930', 'end': '131.530', 'text': 'to form opinions and make moral judgments, creativity and'}, {'start': '131.530', 'end': '136.830', 'text': 'original imagination, hope, vision, and leadership, EPOCH.'}, {'start': '136.950', 'end': '140.350', 'text': 'So, are these really the skills that make the difference and make'}, {'start': '140.350', 'end': '143.530', 'text': 'these jobs somewhat protected from the wave of automation?'}, {'start': '143.530', 'end': '145.870', 'text': "It's not so much a protection idea as it is a"}, {'start': '145.870', 'end': '147.150', 'text': 'difference in the same species.  The'}, {'start': '147.590', 'end': '150.650', 'text': 'study they conducted supports this by saying that jobs'}, {'start': '150.650', 'end': '153.250', 'text': 'that rely heavily on these EPOCH skills'}, {'start': '153.250', 'end': '156.490', 'text': 'are the ones that have grown the most in employment, and are also the ones that are'}, {'start': '156.490', 'end': '158.890', 'text': 'most resilient to artificial intelligence.'}, {'start': '159.270', 'end': '162.370', 'text': 'The important thing is to know that these are not just soft skills,'}, {'start': '162.370', 'end': '164.250', 'text': 'but rather really hard skills.'}, {'start': '171.710', 'end': '173.230', 'text': 'Hard, how?'}, {'start': '176.470', 'end': '179.990', 'text': 'This is, as you say, our human fingerprint that distinguishes us.'}, {'start': '180.010', 'end': '183.310', 'text': 'Okay, this brings us to an important question: Why do'}, {'start': '183.310', 'end': '187.010', 'text': 'AI machines with all these capabilities stop at'}, {'start': '187.010', 'end': '189.010', 'text': "this point?\nWhat is the barrier that you can't cross?"}, {'start': '189.010', 'end': '192.130', 'text': 'Look, artificial intelligence works like a really'}, {'start': '192.130', 'end': '195.090', 'text': 'good student, but if you need a clear curriculum, complete data,'}, {'start': '195.090', 'end': '197.650', 'text': 'and specific goals, it works really well.  Okay.'}, {'start': '198.150', 'end': '201.870', 'text': 'But our work and our real life are full of mystery.'}, {'start': '201.870', 'end': '205.150', 'text': 'Incomplete, biased, or even contradictory information.  The'}, {'start': '205.230', 'end': '207.210', 'text': 'article provides very powerful examples.'}, {'start': '207.570', 'end': '209.450', 'text': 'Consider, for example, a social worker.  He'}, {'start': '209.810', 'end': '212.690', 'text': 'has to make a very difficult decision regarding the future of an'}, {'start': '212.690', 'end': '214.270', 'text': 'entire family based on what?'}, {'start': '214.270', 'end': '217.830', 'text': 'In simple glimpses, vague facial expressions, stories that may'}, {'start': '217.830', 'end': '219.210', 'text': 'be incomplete or conflicting.  A'}, {'start': '219.650', 'end': '220.630', 'text': 'really tough situation.'}, {'start': '220.670', 'end': '222.890', 'text': 'Or a nurse working in a health unit in a'}, {'start': '222.890', 'end': '223.390', 'text': 'remote location.'}, {'start': '223.690', 'end': '226.550', 'text': 'You are facing an emergency, and there is no written, clear protocol'}, {'start': '226.550', 'end': '227.490', 'text': 'for this exact situation.  You'}, {'start': '227.490', 'end': '229.150', 'text': 'need to act quickly.'}, {'start': '229.470', 'end': '232.710', 'text': 'She relies on her experience, her event, her sense of responsibility.'}, {'start': '232.830', 'end': '235.130', 'text': 'Humans know how to deal with this ambiguity.  By'}, {'start': '235.210', 'end': '239.590', 'text': 'understanding the broader context, we take responsibility for our ethical decisions, and we judge'}, {'start': '239.590', 'end': '241.930', 'text': 'things even when we are not 100% certain.'}, {'start': '241.930', 'end': '245.310', 'text': 'Unfortunately, artificial intelligence does not have this deep understanding.'}, {'start': '245.750', 'end': '248.490', 'text': 'Nor does he have the true feeling, nor the ability to bear the'}, {'start': '248.490', 'end': '250.450', 'text': 'consequences of a complex moral decision.'}, {'start': '250.830', 'end': '253.330', 'text': 'Another important point is creativity.'}, {'start': '253.590', 'end': '254.430', 'text': 'Ah, creativity.'}, {'start': '254.430', 'end': '257.470', 'text': 'Artificial intelligence is very impressive in that it can reconstruct what'}, {'start': '257.470', 'end': '257.990', 'text': 'exists.'}, {'start': '258.370', 'end': '260.070', 'text': 'It is based on the data that I trained on.'}, {'start': '260.390', 'end': '262.390', 'text': 'Clever at repetition and improvement.'}, {'start': '262.430', 'end': '264.650', 'text': "But he doesn't know how to rebel."}, {'start': '264.950', 'end': '267.370', 'text': 'He imagines something completely new outside the box he is'}, {'start': '267.370', 'end': '268.010', 'text': 'in.'}, {'start': '268.190', 'end': '271.150', 'text': 'True human creativity often involves challenging the'}, {'start': '271.150', 'end': '272.110', 'text': 'status quo.'}, {'start': '272.470', 'end': '273.930', 'text': 'Reject what everyone does.'}, {'start': '274.050', 'end': '276.350', 'text': 'Like an artist doing something completely different.  Exactly'}, {'start': '276.370', 'end': '276.870', 'text': '.'}, {'start': '276.930', 'end': '279.570', 'text': 'Or a scientist who questions a theory that everyone has been following'}, {'start': '279.570', 'end': '280.350', 'text': 'for years.'}, {'start': '280.350', 'end': '282.110', 'text': 'This is the basis of progress.'}, {'start': '282.130', 'end': '283.670', 'text': 'It is a purely human act.'}, {'start': '283.990', 'end': '286.130', 'text': 'So, if the skills that are EPOCH are'}, {'start': '286.130', 'end': '287.330', 'text': 'that important.'}, {'start': '287.370', 'end': '290.530', 'text': 'Do performance evaluation systems in companies reflect this?'}, {'start': '290.530', 'end': '292.230', 'text': 'So, do you measure these things?'}, {'start': '292.230', 'end': '293.230', 'text': 'This is a very sensitive point.'}, {'start': '293.310', 'end': '295.210', 'text': 'Unfortunately, most of the time no.  What do'}, {'start': '295.430', 'end': '298.410', 'text': 'many of the systems we use now still measure'}, {'start': '298.410', 'end': '299.230', 'text': '?\nspeed.  The'}, {'start': '299.390', 'end': '300.590', 'text': 'amount of work completed.'}, {'start': '300.710', 'end': '301.470', 'text': 'Speed \u200b\u200bof response.'}, {'start': '301.850', 'end': '304.450', 'text': 'It means that you evaluate us as if we are slightly more advanced machines.  Okay.  It is'}, {'start': '305.390', 'end': '308.410', 'text': 'very rare to find a system that measures or rewards the'}, {'start': '308.410', 'end': '311.530', 'text': 'great emotional effort that goes into dealing with'}, {'start': '311.530', 'end': '312.030', 'text': 'people.'}, {'start': '312.070', 'end': '314.770', 'text': "Or the value of taking one's time, thinking and contemplating"}, {'start': '314.770', 'end': '315.950', 'text': 'before making an important decision.'}, {'start': '316.350', 'end': '318.870', 'text': 'Or even the value of this studied frequency, which could'}, {'start': '318.870', 'end': '320.370', 'text': 'be a sign of wisdom, not weakness.'}, {'start': '320.450', 'end': '320.950', 'text': 'correct.'}, {'start': '320.970', 'end': '323.830', 'text': 'This makes many leaders and managers feel that the most important'}, {'start': '323.830', 'end': '327.090', 'text': 'part of their job, which is the human, relational, and'}, {'start': '327.090', 'end': '329.550', 'text': 'ethical side, is not seen or appreciated enough.'}, {'start': '329.730', 'end': '330.530', 'text': 'What is the solution?'}, {'start': '330.530', 'end': '333.150', 'text': 'Does this mean an article suggests practical steps to deal with'}, {'start': '333.150', 'end': '333.710', 'text': 'this situation?'}, {'start': '333.710', 'end': '334.230', 'text': 'Of course.  The'}, {'start': '334.750', 'end': '338.350', 'text': 'central idea is that we need to redesign work'}, {'start': '338.350', 'end': '340.810', 'text': 'around AI, not against it.'}, {'start': '341.050', 'end': '341.670', 'text': 'What does it mean?'}, {'start': '341.670', 'end': '344.030', 'text': 'I mean, the machine user is really good'}, {'start': '344.030', 'end': '348.470', 'text': 'at analyzing big data, sorting, scheduling, and'}, {'start': '348.470', 'end': '349.190', 'text': 'those boring repetitive tasks.'}, {'start': '349.310', 'end': '352.590', 'text': 'At the same time, we, as institutions and leaders, focus on'}, {'start': '352.590', 'end': '356.450', 'text': 'protecting and developing these unique human capabilities, the epoch, and'}, {'start': '356.450', 'end': '359.710', 'text': 'this requires real changes on the ground. First, we'}, {'start': '359.710', 'end': '362.930', 'text': 'redesign the job itself, making these human skills the'}, {'start': '362.930', 'end': '366.450', 'text': 'core of the job, not just an additional thing. I hope they are'}, {'start': '366.450', 'end': '370.820', 'text': 'present and a fundamental change. Second, we change the way we select employees,'}, {'start': '371.070', 'end': '374.610', 'text': 'focusing more on things like curiosity, integrity, and'}, {'start': '374.610', 'end': '378.410', 'text': 'emotional intelligence, not just certifications and technical expertise. Third, we must'}, {'start': '378.410', 'end': '381.750', 'text': 'devise new ways to measure performance, ways that'}, {'start': '381.750', 'end': '385.050', 'text': 'truly reflect the value of these human skills and how they contribute to the'}, {'start': '385.050', 'end': '388.010', 'text': 'success of the job as a whole, and this is the most difficult part, exactly. Fourth, we must'}, {'start': '388.250', 'end': '391.750', 'text': 'invest seriously in training people, training them on how to'}, {'start': '391.750', 'end': '394.370', 'text': 'deal with ambiguity, with situations that do not have'}, {'start': '394.370', 'end': '398.810', 'text': 'easy answers and in which values \u200b\u200bmay conflict. In other words, the conclusion'}, {'start': '398.810', 'end': '402.450', 'text': 'or the biggest warning that the article presents is that'}, {'start': '402.450', 'end': '406.330', 'text': 'in our attempt to keep up with these machines, we may unintentionally'}, {'start': '406.330', 'end': '409.770', 'text': 'devalue the things that make us human,'}, {'start': '409.770', 'end': '413.090', 'text': 'and we may find ourselves in a very effective work environment that'}, {'start': '413.090', 'end': '417.630', 'text': 'runs like clockwork, but it is cold and lacks a'}, {'start': '417.630', 'end': '421.230', 'text': 'dehumanizing spirit, exactly like that. In the end, I believe that the'}, {'start': '421.230', 'end': '424.090', 'text': 'most important question is:  Is artificial intelligence'}, {'start': '424.090', 'end': '427.550', 'text': 'going to take our jobs or not? The more difficult and deeper question is'}, {'start': '427.550', 'end': '432.550', 'text': 'whether we, as societies, individuals, and companies, will continue to remember the value of'}, {'start': '432.550', 'end': '436.650', 'text': 'this human essence and whether we will continue to appreciate and invest in it,'}, {'start': '436.650', 'end': '439.590', 'text': 'which is what makes us truly indispensable.'}, {'start': '439.590', 'end': '442.550', 'text': 'This is really a very important point and deserves that we'}, {'start': '442.550', 'end': '444.130', 'text': 'all think about it deeply.'}]