Why today’s workers hold the key to tomorrow’s digital economy

In the current news climate, you’d be forgiven for believing the world has never experienced a technological revolution before.

According to reports, disruptive technologies such as the AI, IoT and Blockchain are set to have a more fundamental impact on the future of work – in the form of the 'intelligent' fourth industrial revolution – than any of the other three to come before it: steam, electricity and computing.

Rather than casting aside these historical periods of change, however, we must look at them more closely to understand how today’s technologies will impact tomorrow's labour market. In each instance, concerns were raised that new technologies would take people’s jobs, and the same case is being made today, albeit in a different context. Yet in each instance, while some job roles were made redundant, our predecessors were able to adapt to new technologies, and thousands of new jobs were created as a result.

History, therefore, has an important lesson for us today as AI, the IoT and Blockchain increasingly impact our working lives. We need to provide the general public with more direction on the benefits and challenges that these new technologies offer, so they can learn and adapt to the new roles that they will create. But where does the responsibility for educating us all currently fall? Is it up to the government? Or should businesses be providing better insights?

Despite the UK public showing a real willingness to embrace a more tech-driven, innovative future at work, the majority (63 per cent) of consumers don't understand enough about the use and impact of these disruptive technologies. Research we conducted, revealed that a third (36 per cent) of the public mistakenly believe AI ‘is a robot’ – a statistic which is symptomatic of the general public’s lack of clarity on how it works, and how it might benefit them.

Rather than playing the blame game, both businesses and government need to recognise that they are culpable for this knowledge gap, and act accordingly. According to our study, 72 per cent of consumers feel both aren't clear on which technologies they use and how they use them. It’s therefore paramount that the two work in tandem to educate the public more effectively on their potential benefits, so both the current and future generations of British workers are equipped to enhance the country’s reputation for technological excellence.

Because after all, Britain has an illustrious history of innovation and has been at the forefront of technological change during each of the 'revolutions'. As we approach a new digital frontier in terms of what technology can offer in the workplace, the challenge for businesses and governments is to truly capitalise on it; delivering innovation which differentiates their services, excite customers and boost competitive advantage. However, this can only be achieved through a digital foundation that powers the apps, services and experiences that are transforming the world.

It’s my belief that as a nation, we are in prime position to deliver the best of today and be the launchpad for tomorrow’s innovation. To do so, both businesses and government need to show tomorrow’s employees that the future of work will be a workplace for us all, powered by technology, and not just for the chosen few.

This article was submitted via Dropbox Paper: a collaborative workspace for teams. Read more at cityam.com/workinflow.