ETUI-ETUC conference 2016 Panel 20 Robert Went

1. Mastering the robot
The future of work in the second machine age
ETUI/ETUC conference 29-06-2016
Robert Went (WRR)
@went1955

2. The future of work
WRR-project

3. Will 47% of jobs disappear? Not so fast…
• 100 biggest Dutch employers in 2014: - 0,5%
• Jobs are bundles of tasks, often change partially (studies
McKinsey and recently OECD)
• There will be new jobs and tasks (imagination)
• Not everything can be automated (e.g. economist David
Autor; examples Foxconn & Mercedes)

4. Discussion since the 1950s: AI versus IA
Technology doesn’t just happen to you

5. The future: an inclusive robot agenda
“Digital investments need analog complements to ensure everyone
will reap benefits” – Worldbank 2016

6. 1. Invest in robots
• There are not enough robots: productivity and growth (Gordon)
• Heavy and drudgery work can be automated
• Coordination problems, first mover disadvantage

7. 2. Complementarity is key: man with machine (co-bots)
• “Humans are underrated” (work that is human, or that should
stay human)
• Organize co-creation (government can set examples)
• Also low-skilled work and lower incomes (Atkinson, MIT
inclusive innovation contest, care sector, job carving)

8. 3. Ownership of work
• Autonomy and control good for productivity
• Reduce stress, burn-out, increase well-being (happiness)
• “Don’t change workers into robots” (e.g. wearables)

9. 4. New inequality issues
• Income: Job polarization, more low-skilled jobs (multiplier)
• Wealth: Who owns the robots owns the future (robot dividend)
• Loosers: Portfolio of measures to support people not able to cope
(targeted “basic income”, supported jobs, early retirement)

10. Robert Went
@went1955
Questions? Comments?
Mastering the Robot download: www.wrr.nl