AI's impact on jobs: 'We must think of what humans are good at that machines can't do, not other way around'

Gugs Mhlungu is joined by FNB Risk's Mark Nasila, author of 'African Artificial Intelligence'.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have, and is already having, a huge impact on the workplace and industries.

Trade union federation Cosatu is among the groups that have raised concerns about an envisaged loss of jobs in South Africa as more tasks become automated.

Parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parks said we need to have business and labour working together along with academic and training institutions in the sectors that are at risk.

Gugs Mhlungu talks to Mark Nasila, chief data and analytics officer at FNB Risk, and author of African Artificial Intelligence.

Nasila contends that African nations can’t afford to simply import AI solutions from afar, but need to rework AI so that it’s able to meet uniquely African challenges in a uniquely African way.

He notes that the World Economic Forum (WEF) has published its new Future of Jobs Report, which details which jobs are becoming obsolete at a fast rate versus those that will be needed in the future.

What is really concerning for our continent is they're seeing that for developing nations, most of the jobs that will be affected are the ones driving employment in countries like South Africa.

"These are jobs that involve tasks that machines are good at. Looking at developed nations, we're already seeing studies showing that, for example, just by implementing generative AI at a basic level, they're realising activity increased at 1.5 percentage points."

Mark Nasila, Chief Data and Analytics Officer - FNB Risk

Nasila makes the point that if organisations don't invest in AI, jobs will still be lost because they won't be able to successfully compete anymore.

"We're seeing organisations that do not use technology are not going to be able to keep up with others - they're not going to be able to realise the same productivity levels, the ability to understand customers or produce services at the same level."

Mark Nasila, Chief Data and Analytics Officer - FNB Risk

Where previous revolutions in the workplace saw technology multiplying or industrialising jobs, AI and generative AI are doing the opposite, he says.

As more technologies are adopted, more tasks are being taken away from people, with a resultant drop in employment.

Another concern is that committed investment in human intelligence is not matching the investment being seen in AI in some nations, Nasila says.

What's the solution?

We have to think about a balance between doing things the right way versus doing the right things in relation to human-machine partnerships, he posits.

"We have to think for example, what is it that humans are good at that machines cannot do, VERSUS what machines are good at that humans cannot do, because that is a big part of making sure that we secure jobs for the future."

Mark Nasila, Chief Data and Analytics Officer - FNB Risk

"At the same time, the other way to think about it is if organsations don't invest in AI these organisations will not be able to exist."

Mark Nasila, Chief Data and Analytics Officer - FNB Risk

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