Will robots replace workers and employees at factories and offices or will they work hand in hand? Will artificial intelligence destroy jobs or create new ones? Will digitization stop at nothing? Questions that are controversially discussed not only in business and science, but also in Sunday speeches and editorials. What is striking here is that the observation of the English writer Laurence Stern (1713-1768) is still valid: "The less real knowledge, the more heat and excitement in the argument.”

We've always done it this way.

Thousands of ideas, initiatives and innovations have been supressed with this simple sentence. Thanks to digitization, it has finally landed where it always belonged - on the garbage heap of history.

What's different today? It is no longer individual industries that are being changed by technological progress, such as logistics with the advent of containers. Digital change is changing the whole economy and affects all departments and all levels of a company.

Digital processes are gradually providing transparency. Soon no one will be able to hide behind superiors, colleagues or employees. A welcome side effect: authoritarian corporate leaders who do not tolerate any contradiction and thus persuade employees to deceive customers and supervisory authorities against their better judgement are becoming phased out models. Continuing as before is no longer possible, and that frightens many people.

Everyone must (re-)learn

Transparency is not a threat but rather a great opportunity. 

Such a strategic reorientation also allows supervisors and employees to change their attitudes and behaviour without losing face. Those who do not seize this opportunity act negligently.

Progress through AI

Stefan Ries, Chief Human Resources Officer at SAP SE, recently promoted the use of AI in an article. The future will be determined above all by the harmonious interaction of person and machine. It is therefore crucial that people use AI to supplement and improve their own capabilities. There will be breathtaking increases in productivity and efficiency and huge advances in all areas of predictive analytics. Machine learning - as a branch of AI - provides people with the tools to automate redundant tasks, identify and analyse hidden patterns in data, and actually uncover new insights that lead to better and more informed decisions. This frees up valuable time for more  meaningful, creative and strategic tasks that require human thinking - and have the potential to improve our lives.

In the coming years, the use of AI will change millions of jobs worldwide. Only those who are not willing to change and learn should be afraid of the future. What we have achieved effortlessly in our private lives should also be possible in our careers. 

Warmest regards 
Michael Arpe