Whether you like it or not, we all live in the technological era. Moreover, we are dependent on technology. All those complex devices we use every day are already an integral part of our lives. They change the world we live in and help expand the horizon of human knowledge. Without a doubt, smart devices and artificial intelligence have enriched our lives, but there are still negative aspects of living in the technological era.
Some respected researchers believe that robots and computers are beginning to substitute humans in daily life. Is there any chance that machines will beat humans in everything one day? Well, the truth is that the age of artificial intelligence is just around the corner. However, there will still be things that machines cannot do. They cannot produce great art and literature, they cannot learn incomputable functions, they cannot assist students with qualified dissertation help, they cannot replace doctors, and they cannot do a whole range of other important things. Along with that, machines have already transformed the way we work and even have caused some jobs to disappear.
Job taken over by machines
- Switchboard operators
Between the 1880s and 1960s, companies used switchboard operators to physically connect calls. However, with the technology development, live operators were replaced with automatic switchers that don’t require any human intervention. For today, such systems are completely computerized, though some companies still hire switchboard operators to answer the line and connect the caller to the correct department or person.
- Cinema projectionists
In the early days of cinema, a projectionist operated movie projectors and all the sound equipment that went with it. Now that almost all vintage 35mm projectors have been replaced with digital ones, this job has almost disappeared. For today, projectionists can be found only in art-house cinemas.
- Pinsetters
Can you imagine bowling without pinsetter machines? Well, before automatic pinsetters became standard, bowling pins were picked up and arranged in their correct order manually. This job was especially popular among teenage boys. Nowadays, the bowling industry uses automatic bowling alley equipment that is, however, is still controlled by a human.
- Cashiers
Even though live cashiers can still be found in many fast-food restaurants, supermarkets, gasoline stations, and other stores, this job is also likely to disappear in the future. Touch-screen technology, conveyor belts, and full self-service checkouts are already a part of our life.
- Factory workers
More and more factories are replacing their human workforce with automated machines and robots. Let’s just remember the largest supplier of Samsung and Apple devices Foxconn that not so long ago sacked 60,000 workers in one of its Chinese factories. It’s not difficult to guess that the number of human workers will only continue to fall due to the technology development.
This list is not exhaustive, as there are many other jobs that have also been taken over by machines. Thus, while technology is a great thing that makes our life so much easier, it also has negative sides that greatly change the way we live. Anyway, while machines cannot think and create other machines without human intervention, they cannot beat us in many things. We are winning, at least for now.
