chapter fourteen of seventeen
Chapter Fourteen: A.I., Early Childhood, and Workforce Development
While automation poses challenges, predictions of complete job displacement are often exaggerated. Studies like the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2023 suggest transformation, not elimination, with millions of new jobs emerging alongside automation.
While some specific jobs, particularly routine tasks, are susceptible, the bigger picture involves skills shifts and transitions. McKinsey Global Institute's 2023 report predicts that by 2030, between 40 million and 800 million existing jobs globally could be affected by automation, requiring adaptation and reskilling. However, it also estimates that 60 million to 230 million new jobs will be created.
In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2030, 7.5% of existing jobs could be impacted by automation, while 8.3% of new jobs will emerge. While specific impacts on minority groups require careful monitoring, attributing automation solely to job losses misses the broader trends.
Instead of focusing solely on unemployment figures, it's important to remember that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the labor market. Many job losses will likely recover alongside economic growth. However, it's vital to acknowledge that some changes may be permanent, necessitating preparation for future workforce transformations.
Addressing the post-COVID and automation-driven paradigm shift requires a multi-pronged approach:
1. Education and Training: Focus on building transferable skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy alongside technical skills relevant to emerging fields. Continuously update curriculum and training programs to reflect evolving job demands.
2. Upskilling and Reskilling: Provide accessible pathways for workers in potentially impacted sectors to acquire new skills and transition to growing job areas. Government and industry should collaborate on reskilling initiatives.
3. Social Safety Nets: Strengthen social safety nets to support workers during transitions and invest in programs that facilitate job search and reskilling efforts.
4. Early Childhood Education: Invest in high-quality early childhood education to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and adaptability.
STEM jobs are predicted to grow by 17 percent compared to 9.8 percent for all other occupations. Thus, it would make sense to train your child to take advantage of the opportunities inherent in the STEM fields, especially automation-related fields. For example, according to a study published by the American Sociological Association, Canadian children, who outperforms U.S. students on international assessments by 30%, already have a comparative advantage at ages 4-5. As a result, the training of children for Artificial Intelligence must be begin at 16 weeks. At this age it is important for a child to learn the difference between building and destroying. Building blocks are perfect for this. The first two years should be spent, showing the child how to build and not destroy. They should be trained how to manage their emotions during building projects. They should learn not be become jealous of what others build, nor become angry when their own building falls down. These are the simple building blocks of computer programming and artificial intelligence. It takes a pain-staking amount of patience and endurance to create highly accurate A.I. I also recommend mindfulness meditation, as such meditation can help to direct the agitation associated with such fine and tedious tasks as mining for data, fine-tuning an A.I. model, or accidentally losing a days worth of unsaved work.
If children are to become prepared for the decades to come, yes, they must know about science, math, reading, and writing. However, it is their mindsets and confidence about what they can do and achieve in the face of adversity, that will come to define them. This mindset is the most important thing that can be trained in the mind of a child, and all other factors are secondary. Let it be noted that the children also can be trained between the ages of 3-4 to code in the terminal, and I recommend Python as a starting language. Children also must become accustomed with the Linux operating system, as the future of automation lies with Linux. Doing these things alone, will prepare your child well by matching the development of their understanding of the importance of character in unison with technological development.
In grades K-12, project-based learning should be the goal. It is important for students to understand how what they are learning, fits into the broader context of society and life. Mission-based learning is also important, when students are able to heighten their focus, as well as the overall implications of their success or failure. Allowing students to form mock businesses, to prototype and interview people in the real world about real issues, stretches the mind and imagination in ways that cannot be conceived. It is the process of continuing to teach a human how to build, how to deal with setbacks, and how to rise above them. It is important for each person in the group to have opportunities to present and articulate their own thoughts, ideas, and contributions, as these students later will have to pitch in front of investors, government representatives, or potential customers. During these stages, I recommend introducing students to the Robotic Operating System (ROS), coupled with Python, as there are many hands-on and fun projects that can be done with both languages.
At the Post-secondary/Workforce level, many individuals have never worked with the type of advanced technology that is currently being used by many of the Fortune 1000 companies. Much of the technology is too expensive, and not readily available, resulting in extraordinarily small numbers of people having access to such technology and an even smaller number having expert knowledge of such technologies. The current educational system is wholly unprepared to train students properly for such future positions in the field of A.I. and Automation. The world of automation is not merely confined to a Laptop or cell-phone; automation comes in many different forms with many different devices from Drones, to self-driving cars, to robots, and aquatic drones, security cameras, etc. Therefore, this population of non-tech savvy as well as tech savvy on the wrong tech, have to be treated as if they know absolutely nothing, and on-boarded onto Linux and Computer Programming, as if working with a 4-year old. They are learning a new language, and actually multiple new languages, and so they must be flexible, and the trainers must be patient. Likewise, relevant connections from the in-class work, to real-world applications must be tied together to foster enthusiasm in the learning experience and process with adults, as well as with children.
In order for the workforce to prepare for machine automation, there are three types of jobs that will become available: 1) Automation Designer, 2) Automation Programmer, and 3) Automation Technician. Either you will design the machines, program the machines, or service the machines. It's that simple, and therefore pipelines in these three domains should have been created yesterday. More creative persons, may flourish on the design side. More hands-on persons may flourish on the technician side. More introverted persons may flourish on the programming side. If this dramatic shift can be achieved, there is a strong likelihood that we will meet today’s and tomorrows challenges with preparation and persistence.
The realities of today and tomorrow will never return to what it was Post Covid-19. However, the world has just been pushed forward toward what it knew was already coming. There is no running from automation. One can only face it head on. It will take time, but nothing worthwhile is easy. The time spent embracing the coming technology will pass, and the embrace will translate into adaptation and ultimately prosperity as a nation and civilization, thereby propelling humanity beyond.
Bonus Exercises
If you are a child-care provider, looking for way to integrate AI Into the classroom, explore utilizing the various applications in the classroom. For example, you might use Providence to discover the emotional state of the child, to provide socio-emotional development that is most appropriate. You might explore the Covid-19 self-screening application, or allow the children to observe the Smart City application, allowing them to see Artificial Intelligence in its purest form.
For Workforce Development Teams, including those using the Infinite AI Marketplace-on-a-Chip or the Infinite AI Cloud Marketplace, think of three to five ways the various Marketplace applications could be utilized in your present, past, or prospective career fields.
If you were to think of an new use case for the technology what would it be? What additional applications would you like to see?
For more information on A.I. and its role in future educational systems, here is a TED Talk, discussion this exact topic. Enjoy!
Ean Mikale, J.D., is an eight-time author with 11 years of experience in the AI industry. He serves as the Principal Engineer of Infinite 8 Industries, Inc., and is the IEEE Chair of the Hybrid Quantum-inspired Internet Protocol Industry Connections Group. He has initiated and directed his companies 7-year Nvidia Inception and Metropolis Partnerships. Mikale has created dozens of AI Assistants, many of which are currently in production. His clientele includes Fortune 500 Companies, Big Three Consulting Firms, and leading World Governments. He is a former graduate of IBM's Global Entrepreneur Program, AWS for Startups, Oracle for Startups, and Accelerate with Google. Finally, he is the creator of the World's First Hybrid Quantum Internet Layer, InfiNET. As an Industry Expert, he has also led coursework at Institutions, such as Columbia and MIT. Follow him on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook: @eanmikale