The future of work is a topic that is taking up an increasing amount of mindshare in global macro-economic thinking. The primary driver for the discussion is the increased use of advanced technologies (like AI, robotics, cloud, analytics, nanotechnology, quantum computing, 3D/4D printing, IoT, blockchain, self-driving vehicles, etc., and synergies among these) that will result in a reduced need for humans in the workplace. The future of work is therefore closely intertwined with the rapid evolution of technology. Beyond technology, several other factors are already underway, widening the economic gap between the rich and the poor and concentrating wealth among corporations and nations.
The above challenges, if unaddressed, could result in political, social, and economic chaos, a rapid deterioration of the global order, and a massive increase in unemployment. The Millennium Project estimates that if the current system stays the same, half of the world will be unemployed by 2050.
To better prepare the world from the possible chaos, different stakeholders, like the government, businesses, educational and skilling institutes, science and technology research establishments, and arts and culture institutes, must work in tandem. Collaborative action could result in an outcome that the Millennium Project calls the “Self-Actualization Economy,” where there is a shift from an employment culture to one characterized by self-employment, universal basic income, etc.
For our part at i2i, as a responsible business, we want to create ethical and social value in addition to material and economic value. This essence is captured strongly in our tagline, “Distributing the Future Evenly’ and our values of diversity and empathy. Further, we incorporate the following into our operating and business models:
Empowering talent in smaller towns, investing in future skills development, and creating employment opportunities in small towns themselves
Collaborating with educational and skilling institutions in smaller towns to help update their curriculum and direct them towards future skills
Operate our company as a professional network rather than one with static hierarchies
Investing in the platform for skill mapping, tracking, and development
A developing platform that helps self-employed skilled talent offer services in an on-demand fashion
These tenets help us contribute towards developing a resilient world that is better positioned to take advantage of advancing technologies while advancing the development of a more equitable world.