In a linguistic faux pas, my Swedish girlfriend recently managed to simultaneously make me blush and enlighten me. With innocent confidence, she declared, "We’ll need more handjobs!" as we walked down to the shops. We were talking about AI and how it will affect the job market.
After I managed to control my teenage-like laughter, it became clear that she was referring to the value of skilled manual labor in a world increasingly dominated by digitalization and AI.
But, that got me thinking: In an age where generative AI can draft legal documents, compose symphonies, and, well .. let’s face it … write blog posts (no offense, dear reader), what is the real future of the job market?
The Grip of AI on the Modern Workplace
The encroachment of AI into the job market can feel like a mechanical hand closing around the livelihoods many have taken for granted. From automation in manufacturing to algorithms that can out-calculate the best of us, it's clear that the digits (both the finger and number kind) are evolving.
However, there's a twist, right?
It's precisely the jobs that require a “human touch” that may prove most resilient.
Why “Handjobs” Might Just Save Us
Hear me out.
The term handjobs, as hilariously misused as it was, can be a metaphor for the future of work.
What are you talking about Pablo?
Think about it… plumbers, electricians, waiters. They're the ones performing complex tasks that require a level of dexterity, problem-solving, and finesse robots and AI are still fumbling to replicate.
Remember the Jetson’s?
A cartoon from the 60’s amazingly predicted the future, with flat TV’s, smartphones, flat-screen televisions, smart watches, video calls, drones, holograms, digital newspapers, and even automatic vacuums.
There was a robot, the lovable and ever-so-efficient Rosie the Robot Maid.
Rosie was more than just a bundle of circuits, she was part of the Jetson family. With her cool personality and motherly care, she was less of an appliance and more of an integral part of the Jetson's.
Anyway, my point being...
Rosie offered a glimpse into a future where robots could do more than just perform tasks they could become companions, confidants, and even part of a family dynamic. But despite the best efforts of AI and all the freakish advancements we have been seeing in the past year, WE DO NOT HAVE A ROSIE!
Why?
Combining human dexterity with the creative power of the human brain is not easy to replicate. It turns out that we’ve been able to create and train machines to produce intelligent thought before being able to create a robot that can help us with everyday tasks .... like loading the dishwasher.
There seems to be an element of creativity and adaptability in manual work that is profoundly human.
The Soft (and Hard) Skills of Tomorrow
There is wisdom and merit in “handjobs”... or human-centric manual tasks. The skill sets that can withstand the AI revolution are those that blend the cerebral with our tendons: the ability to think critically and create, coupled with the capability to physically manipulate our world.
Even as AI can “learn” some aspects of these tasks, there is an authenticity and craft in manual work that is deeply valued and far from outdated. Yes, even with the invention of ChatGPT 4.0!
AI and Craftsmanship: Frenemies?
Generative AI can design a building, but can it lay the bricks with the same artistry as a mason?
It can write up a recipe, but can it taste the sauce?
Here's where I'm going with this...
I'm not saying AI doesn't have its place; it can perform repetitive tasks, analyze data, and to the dismay of every high school teacher right now, draft an end-of-year essay. But there's a je ne sais quoi to human touch in manual work that AI and robotics have yet to crack.
Take this blog. I love to write.
Always have.
But I'm not as good and fast as ChatGPT. It literally took me about two weeks (yes, I have a job people) to create.
But (somehow) I've managed to keep you entertained until here. Me, with my brain and fingers have mustered the creative might to get you to read this. And it's obviously got mistakes, could be worded better, etc.
But it's genuine and human and that's probably why you are reading it (thank you BTW).
The Hands-On Approach to Education
Here is another thought.
Perhaps our education systems should pivot slightly.
From typing to tinkering, from clicking to crafting. Encouraging the growth of vocational training and apprenticeships could be the key to a more resilient job market. After all, even as AI writes its own code, it still can't repair a leaky faucet or replace a skillful nurse’s lifesaving tasks.
Machines still depend on humans.
Future generations must understand that.
Embracing the Future with Open Arms (and Hands)
In a world where “handjobs” are increasingly misunderstood, it might be time we recognize the value of keeping our hands dirty (figuratively and literally).
As we navigate into the fourth industrial revolution, it's the human touch, craftspeople, the fixers, the makers, who constantly remind us that there are certain things AI cannot replicate: the subtleties of skilled touch, the artistry of motion, and the ability to adapt still separate man from machine.
Conclusion: A Firm Handshake Between Man and Machine
The lesson from my girlfriend's amusing gaffe is clear: manual labor isn't just about survival in the face of AI, it’s the next big thing.
As generative AI continues to reshape our job market and most of us will depend on prompting to accomplish our day jobs, there will still and always be a diminishing group of people who use their hands in ways only a human can.
We will value them, their jobs and the constant reminder they provide: "we were all once like them."
I feel comfort in knowing that those jobs that require the warmth of a human hand are here to stay.
I strongly believe it will be a blend of human ingenuity and the skill of our hands that will build the world of tomorrow. And who knows, maybe teaching “handjobs” will become the next big thing (in the most PG sense of the ter... of course).