Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been shaping our lives for years, such as by influencing our likes and preferences, in addition to trying to provide us with very personalised support. However, it has only been in recent months that the mass consumer has been gaining an appreciation of the power and potential of AI.

Data and Advanced Analytics leader at PwC Caribbean, Kevan Rajaram, is introducing new and different angles to our conversation on AI, and discusses among other things:  some of the ways AI will change the workplace; the extent to which technology is pushing against boundaries we (as humans) might inherently have; could we allow a machine to lead us; and what might there be the impact of AI from a country perspective.

 

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Data and Advanced Analytics leader at PwC Caribbean, Kevan Rajaram, is introducing new and different angles to our conversation on AI, and discusses among other things:  some of the ways AI will change the workplace; the extent to which technology is pushing against boundaries we (as humans) might inherently have; could we allow a machine to lead us; and what might there be the impact of AI from a country perspective.

With the recent focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven chatbots and image-generation platforms in recent months, there is a growing realisation of the potential – albeit small currently – for computers to “take over”, and for example, replace humans in the workplace. Over the past five years, in particular, with the uptick in Robotics Process Automation (RPA), RPA has been assigned low-level and repetitive tasks in the workplace, which it can perform faster and with considerably greater accuracy than humans.

It should thus come as no surprise that several studies and reports on the impact of automation in the workplace, produced by thought leaders such as McKinsey, have projected that:

  • Approximately 50% of current work activities are technically automatable
  • For six out of 10 occupations, 30% of their activities are technically automatable; and
  • By 2030, up to 30% of full-time workers could be displaced by automation

However, if robotics and automation can execute relatively straightforward and repetitive tasks, what tasks and responsibilities remain the remit of humans when AI comes into the mix?

From the conversations we have had so far here on the Podcast, machines are nowhere close to fully replacing humans. But we are of the view that it is prudent to start to have those discussions, to be better prepared for what is to come.

 

Introducing our guest

Kevan Rajaram

Kevan Rajaram has been working as a data professional for the past ten years. He has worked at major companies throughout the Caribbean region and currently serves as a Data and Advanced Analytics leader at PwC Caribbean.

Kevan possesses a wide array of skills including data mining, programming for data analytics, statistics, probability theory, data visualization, cloud computing and version control. He graduated from the University of the West Indies (UWI) with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (Honours) and a Master of Science in Statistics (Distinction). He is currently pursuing his PhD in Computer Science at UWI, St. Augustine where his research area is in applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

 

 

Insights into our conversation

A fact that is often overlooked is how big the fields of AI and data science are, and so the broad range of issues that can be discussed. A key focus for this conversation is the impact of AI in the workplace, especially since it is expected that AI and automation will replace humans in performing a variety of tasks. This trend, which is expected to accelerate in the coming years has led to some ‘displacement anxiety’ among employees, as they are unsure what their work life will be, and perhaps more importantly, how will need to adjust and evolve to remain an asset in the workplace.

However, in addition to discussing the likely impact of AI in the workplace, this conversation focused on the ethics of AI and its potential impact on the wider society. Many of the issues raised in the latter two areas did not have clear-cut solutions. They are matters that could benefit from a wider debate on the various countervailing themes and challenges, which we perhaps ought to begin sooner rather than later.

Below are some of the questions posed to Kevan during our conversation.

  1. To get us started and give us some context, tell us a bit about yourself and what has driven your interest in Data Science and Machine Learning, and tell us more about your experience in the field.
  2. In what ways do you expect AI to change the workplace?
  3. What are some of the jobs and opportunities that could become obsolete thanks to AI?
  4. What are your thoughts about the extent to which technology is pushing against boundaries we might have?
  5. What skills do you think we will need for the workplace of the not-too-distant future?
  6. Could we surrender authority to a machine and allow it to lead us?
  7. Broadening our scope to the wider society, might there be the impact of AI from a country perspective?

 

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Let’s make it happen!

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit:  PwC; Christina @ wocintechchat.com (Unsplash);  Pavel Danilyuk (Pexels);  Pixabay (Pexels) 

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez