As World Bank chief sounds the alarm on the automation of millions of jobs, claiming it will put the world on a crash course, Matthew Thomas, Market Leader, Financial Services & Financial Officers, Korn Ferry Futurestep, EMEA comments.

What will emerging technologies like automation/AI really mean for the workplace? We are living in a digital revolution as significant as the industrial revolution, with technology shaking the foundations of the workforce. Indeed, computers are already surpassing the human brain at sheer processing, and the true era of AI is not too far away. So where do humans fit in?

Whilst emerging technologies such as AI has the potential to reshape the future of work, it will be humans who will accelerate its impact. In fact, it will enhance the modern workplace and empower people to spend more time on interesting work. How? Technology like AI helps remove the mundane process side of things, helping free up time for people to do more creative work. In addition, data analytics will provide powerful insights that can enhance decision-making and inform more valuable relationships.

So what’s the answer to help people and technology work together? Immediate changes to education are needed in order to upskill the workforce for the expertise needed in the future, such as creative thinking, problem-solving and agility. But it doesn’t stop there. Current employees must also be given continuous training opportunities too in order to acquire new, specific knowledge and skills, often related to technology and its applications.

With an underlining concern that automation will replace humans’ jobs in the future, it’s important that business leaders, politicians, and workers’ representatives ensure a true partnership between people and technology in a bid to reveal greater value for organisations.