The world is getting smaller. As more and more countries adopt the internet, jobs in America are getting harder and harder to come by. And there are some areas where you can’t just apply for a job online and get hired.
For example, in Africa, there are millions of people who have never had access to the internet. And they’re primarily working in agriculture – growing crops, making coffee, harvesting wood. In many cases, they get paid a pittance for the complex, physical work.
So what happens if the technology that keeps the rest of the world’s population safe and comfortable replaces the people already living in poverty?
The future of the African economy is likely to depend on the success of those who can help harness the digital revolution to solve Africa’s job creation and skill development challenges.
So, how will Africa deal with the challenges of population growth and job scarcity? Will technology ever replace the human workforce?
How Technology Is Being Used In Different Fields
Robotic process automation is a new technology expected to change the nature of work. This type of machine may eventually replace human workers in some roles. Some experts say this technology already exists, while others say it is a step away from becoming a reality.
1. Self-Driving Cars
Self-driving cars are one of the most prominent examples of how technology is changing the way we work. A few years ago, people thought human drivers would only control cars. They couldn’t imagine a time when cars would be able to drive themselves.
As the Middle East and Africa self-driving vehicle industry grows at a CAGR of 46.6%, it is estimated to generate worldwide revenue of USD 18.94 billion by the year 2024.
The truth is that it’s already possible to buy a car that can drive itself. Unfortunately, the technology to make this happen has been available so long that it’s easy to forget that it’s a recent development.
2. Surgical Robots
Surgical robots are now being used in hospitals around the globe. The lack of qualified surgeons in Africa is a significant hurdle in providing quality healthcare. These robots are designed to automate the surgeon’s work.
They help a surgeon perform a task like removing a tumour without having to do much work. The surgeon holds the robot’s hand-like device, which they use to give commands to the robot. The robot then performs its function.
3. Semiconductor Fabrication
IC fabrication (integrated circuit fabrication) is a complex process involving the fabrication of semiconductors’ thin films. If you think about it, almost all of the things we use today are composed of components that are put together by this process.
For example, you can’t have mobile phones without integrated circuits, and you can’t have a computer without them. Companies that fabricate ICs have been using machines for a long time. They’re already entirely automated. But still, there’s a lot of work needed to design the processes and ensure they’re done right.
Intel has been fabricating its silicon wafers with an automated system. The company intends to reduce the number of workers it uses by reducing the time it takes to make a wafer by a third.