Inclusivity ‘essential’ for successful transition to automated future — Queen

DEAD SEA — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Wednesday said inclusivity is "essential" for the success of the future of work.

"Machines and robots will supplement people, but they will not supplant us," Queen Rania said as she addressed the role of automation in the transformation of future jobs.

Her Majesty made the remarks during the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) 27th annual meeting and business forum in the presence of His Majesty King Abdullah and HRH Crown Prince Hussein.

Expanding on the idea that automation and artificial intelligence (AI) complement human potential rather than substitute it, the Queen said that innovation is exclusively a human trait. 

“Human beings have original ideas. We perceive without needing to be told. And even when AI is loaded with data, creativity is still a human gift," Queen Rania said during the event, which attracted more than 2,000 international participants, including government representatives, businessmen, and academics. 

Her Majesty explained that automation will provide countless opportunities, including “an explosion of innovation” as machines take over routine tasks. “Yes, some jobs will disappear, but others will evolve or emerge,” she said at the opening of a session titled "The Future of  Work: Addressing Tomorrow’s Skills and Jobs Challenges".

Recognising the unpredictability of what is to come due to automation and the apprehension it has caused nations, Queen Rania reassured the audience, saying that crossing from the known to the unknown cannot be done incrementally. 

“If we are to make it across the chasm, we cannot do it one small step at a time. Living on the edge means being bold — with new partnerships, new playbooks, new resources — and most of all, the confidence, courage, and commitment to take a flying leap," she said.

Expanding on the insecurities that accompany rapid automation, the Queen pointed out that while automation and AI might be threatening jobs, mainly entry-level positions, this drastic transformation does not have to come at the expense of young people. This can be alleviated through “reimagining education”, and “leveraging technology to give all people access to knowledge”, she stated. 

The Queen also said that AI promises to offer “exciting new tools to improve people’s lives” from “providing early and accurate diagnosis of disease” to “assisting with surgery”, and underlined how technology can “help us make big gains in productivity, generating economic growth and spurring new demand”. 

Despite these favourable consequences, the Queen cautioned against excluding certain groups from its potential benefits, stating that the MENA region has only realised 62 per cent of its human potential, "because we are leaving people, notably women, out of the workforce”.

She stressed that technological advancement cannot replace dependable basic human nature and instincts. 

“As we grapple with digital codes that are redefining our lives in real time, there are older codes that still require our attention. Human codes like empathy, compassion and understanding, that can influence and guide our actions,” Queen Rania said.

“Artificial intelligence is no match for lived experience. No algorithm’s power will ever equal a human heart. And I am convinced that if we attack our challenges with human imagination and compassion, the future workplace could be a better one for us all,” she concluded. 

The panel shed light on the challenges facing labour markets and ways to strengthen their resilience and adaptability. 

Participants also looked into the best means to identify opportunities to foster inclusive and sustainable growth and create greater opportunities specifically for women and young people.