– Jon Kabat-Zinn
According to a study by the ESCWA on the Arab region titled “Impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on Development in the Arab region,” activities could be automated to replace jobs held by high school graduates by up to 55% and by workers without a high school diploma by up to 50%. For positions held by graduates with bachelor’s degrees or higher, this potential replacement decreases to 22 percent.
System-level changes and model-level modifications differ from one another in addition to this differentiation. The construction industry, for instance, is challenging to automate, but advances in technology, such as on-site 3D printing or the usage of prefabricated buildings, are fundamentally altering the sector and will have a significant influence on the kinds of skills required in the sector and on associated professions. The types of talents required within a particular industry vary as a result of these underlying system changes. Tasks requiring creative intelligence, which call for the capacity to generate novel and/or useful ideas, provide another automation issue.
Should we, however, truly worry? Should we be concerned about the scale of potential job losses brought on by the Fourth Industrial Revolution? Is my career as the author of these lines in danger right now, or is your job, dear reader? The simple answer is both yes and no! In the lines that follow, we’ll try to explain this to you.
Should I Be Afraid of Artificial Intelligence and Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4)?
#Yes! IR4 is a threat, if you have a cognitive rigidity
Lack of mental flexibility is referred to as cognitive rigidity. It may be characterized as the incapacity to alter behavior or ideas when doing so will help you achieve your goal. Cognitive rigidity may modify how behavior is regulated, leading to the development of unproductive behavioral habits.
You are seriously at risk and under threat from automation and artificial intelligence if you resist understanding the urgent changes and developments in the technical community and in the necessary skills and do not make an effort to keep up with and learn them.
#No! IR4 is not a threat, if you are skills-oriented!
You run the danger of being replaced by robots and artificial intelligence in the near future if your focus is on traditional certification or theoretical classroom study. Since the general trends advocated by major organizations like the International Labor Organization, the World Bank, and development institutions are that in the coming years will search for skills, cognitive and behavioral skills, critical thinking skills, creative thinking skills, planning, and risk prediction, the ability to analyze and interpret data, along with emotional and social intelligence.
#Yes! IR4 is a threat, if you are afraid of change!
You are in danger if you continue to hold onto the preconceived notions about the world and the market that you have had since you were a little child. The first thing you need is a change in perspective so that you can start educating yourself on how quickly things are changing in the world, how the demands of time are changing, and how the tendencies and character of each generation of people are changing.
In order to avoid falling into the trap of worrying about previous and pointless investments in the modern world simply because you have studied it or spent a lot of time learning and practicing it (what so-called Sunk Cost Fallacy), you need to start reading and following global reports and taking proactive steps by being mentally and behaviorally flexible. You must adapt and use your prior experiences for the requirements of new phases.
#No! IR4 is not a threat, if you join the new wave of innovation
Maria Montessori famously said: “The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life.” This is something that we at Meem Ain firmly believe in. We firmly think that the main purpose of education is to equip future generations to take charge of their unforeseen future!
Based on this, we carefully observe the most recent advancements and educational indicators, or, to put it another way, we constantly consider everything that has to do with imparting to children the knowledge and skills that will be scientifically related to their economic and societal indicators in the distant future.
This is why we’ve created a number of cutting-edge educational programs to evaluate and enhance kids’ capabilities from a gamified perspective and focusing on various skill sets, including:
– Amani: A Cybersecurity Assessment Tool
– Malee: A Financial Literacy Assessment Tool
– Kutubi: For Reading Comprehension Skills
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