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Silicon Valley Comes to Oxford to Discuss How Humans Can Win Against Machines in the Workplace of the Future
OXFORD, England, May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
- Many more occupations now at risk of computerisation, but technology still no
substitute for perception, creativity and social skills
The workers of the future will have to become "more human" in order to compete with
technology that will increasingly challenge human labour in a range of cognitive as well
as manual tasks. At the same time, we will have to redefine our measures of "productivity"
and "work" if we are not to collapse under the pressures of infinite devices and infinite
data vying for our finite time and attention. The fourteenth Silicon Valley Comes to
Oxford [http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/school/events-1/silicon-valley-comes-oxford/svco-2015 ],
on 17th - 18th May 2015, will discuss the impacts and challenges of augmented humanity on
the workplace and employment in the future.
'Computers were initially used to carry out routine tasks involving explicit
rule-based activities, which tended to be viewed as freeing people from mundane and
repetitive work,' says Michael Osborne, Associate Professor, University of Oxford, and
Co-Director, Oxford Martin Programme on Technology and Employment
[http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/community/people/michael-osborne ], who will be presenting on
Technology at Work: The Future of Employment. 'But big data means that algorithms from
Machine Learning can now easily substitute for labour in a much wider range of non-routine
tasks, from legal writing to truck-driving. In addition, advanced robots are gaining
enhanced senses and dexterity, allowing them to perform more complex manual tasks.'
Professor Osborne will talk about his research predicting the jobs and occupations
most at risk from computerisation in the future, and also about the new jobs and emerging
industries that are likely to replace them. Fraud detection, legal research, healthcare
diagnostics, telemarketing and reception duties are all at risk, he will explain, while
wind energy engineers, solar energy installation managers, nanotechnology engineers, and
informatics nurse specialists are likely to be in demand - as well as Zumba instructors
and beach body coaches.
'Tasks that are non-susceptible to computerisation require creative and social
intelligence,' he says. 'For workers to win the race against technology, therefore, they
will have to acquire creative and social skills - forcing a revaluation of our attitudes
to education and development.'
Dave Coplin, Chief Envisioning Officer for Microsoft UK
[http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/community/people/dave-coplin ], will talk about The Rise of the
Humans: How to Outsmart the Digital Deluge. He argues that, while the computerisation of
routine tasks was meant to free up our time for leisure and for more complex and
interesting work, the opposite has happened. We are drowning in a "deluge of data" that
can keep us from doing meaningful, real work. In addition, our obsession with
"productivity" and the "rate of output" means that 'in a world defined by its processes
and not its outcomes, working smarter is not an option and the only feasible alternative
is simply to work harder.'
Phil Libin, CEO of Evernote [http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/community/people/phil-libin ],
may disagree. He believes that companies need to keep up with the tools and technologies
that result in a more productive, efficient and plugged-in work force. He can talk about
how A.I. (or Augmented Intelligence) technology can ensure that employees feel plugged in
and connected, whether they're in a start-up or larger organisation.
Professor Osborne will join Professor Nick Bostrom, Director, Future of Humanity
Institute [http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/community/people/nick-bostrom ], to discuss What do
humanity's technological advancements really mean for us and should we be worried?
Professor Bostrom's 2014 book, Superintelligence, suggests how we might prepare for the
time when machines' intelligence far exceeds that of humans. But will they ever be able to
match the depth and breadth of human perception, or respond to the subtle social signals
needed for effective persuasion, negotiation, comfort and care?
Notes to editors:
1 About Silicon Valley Comes to Oxford
Now in its fourteenth year, Silicon Valley Comes to Oxford bridges two world centres
of ideas to explore the big issues and future directions of innovation and entrepreneurial
phenomena in a vibrant and fast paced mix of masterclasses, panel debates, plenaries and
networking events. The leading European entrepreneurship forum, pioneered by the
University of Oxford's Said Business School, brings business leaders and luminaries from
across Silicon Valley and beyond to Oxford for a period of focused interaction with
faculty, research and student members of Oxford University and the British entrepreneurial
ecosystem.
Silicon Valley comes to Oxford 2015 will once again have an impressive line up of
visiting VIPs from the Valley and beyond, including established entrepreneurs, founders of
start-ups, venture capitalists and funders, theorists and policy influencers. A wide range
of technologies and trends will be explored, providing the opportunity to identify future
directions.
2 About The Entrepreneurship Centre at Said Business School
http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/ideas-impact/entrepreneurship
3 About Said Business School
Said Business School at the University of Oxford blends the best of new and old. We
are a vibrant and innovative business school, but yet deeply embedded in an 800 year old
world-class university. We create programmes and ideas that have global impact. We educate
people for successful business careers, and as a community seek to tackle world-scale
problems. We deliver cutting-edge programmes and ground-breaking research that transform
individuals, organisations, business practice, and society. We seek to be a world-class
business school community, embedded in a world-class University, tackling world-scale
problems.
To register to attend, or for further information please contact the press office:
Jonaid Jilani, Press Officer, Mobile: +44(0)7860-259996, Tel: +44(0)1865-614678,
Email: jonaid.jilani@sbs.ox.ac.uk or pressoffice@sbs.ox.ac.uk
Josie Powell, Senior Press Officer, Mobile +44(0)7711-387215, Tel: +44(0)1865-288403,
Email: josie.powell@sbs.ox.ac.uk or pressoffice@sbs.ox.ac.uk
Said Business School
Silicon Valley Comes to Oxford to Discuss How Humans Can Win Against Machines in the Workplace of the Future
OXFORD, England, May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
- Many more occupations now at risk of computerisation, but technology still no
substitute for perception, creativity and social skills
The workers of the future will have to become "more human" in order to compete with
technology that will increasingly challenge human labour in a range of cognitive as well
as manual tasks. At the same time, we will have to redefine our measures of "productivity"
and "work" if we are not to collapse under the pressures of infinite devices and infinite
data vying for our finite time and attention. The fourteenth Silicon Valley Comes to
Oxford [http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/school/events-1/silicon-valley-comes-oxford/svco-2015 ],
on 17th - 18th May 2015, will discuss the impacts and challenges of augmented humanity on
the workplace and employment in the future.
'Computers were initially used to carry out routine tasks involving explicit
rule-based activities, which tended to be viewed as freeing people from mundane and
repetitive work,' says Michael Osborne, Associate Professor, University of Oxford, and
Co-Director, Oxford Martin Programme on Technology and Employment
[http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/community/people/michael-osborne ], who will be presenting on
Technology at Work: The Future of Employment. 'But big data means that algorithms from
Machine Learning can now easily substitute for labour in a much wider range of non-routine
tasks, from legal writing to truck-driving. In addition, advanced robots are gaining
enhanced senses and dexterity, allowing them to perform more complex manual tasks.'
Professor Osborne will talk about his research predicting the jobs and occupations
most at risk from computerisation in the future, and also about the new jobs and emerging
industries that are likely to replace them. Fraud detection, legal research, healthcare
diagnostics, telemarketing and reception duties are all at risk, he will explain, while
wind energy engineers, solar energy installation managers, nanotechnology engineers, and
informatics nurse specialists are likely to be in demand - as well as Zumba instructors
and beach body coaches.
'Tasks that are non-susceptible to computerisation require creative and social
intelligence,' he says. 'For workers to win the race against technology, therefore, they
will have to acquire creative and social skills - forcing a revaluation of our attitudes
to education and development.'
Dave Coplin, Chief Envisioning Officer for Microsoft UK
[http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/community/people/dave-coplin ], will talk about The Rise of the
Humans: How to Outsmart the Digital Deluge. He argues that, while the computerisation of
routine tasks was meant to free up our time for leisure and for more complex and
interesting work, the opposite has happened. We are drowning in a "deluge of data" that
can keep us from doing meaningful, real work. In addition, our obsession with
"productivity" and the "rate of output" means that 'in a world defined by its processes
and not its outcomes, working smarter is not an option and the only feasible alternative
is simply to work harder.'
Phil Libin, CEO of Evernote [http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/community/people/phil-libin ],
may disagree. He believes that companies need to keep up with the tools and technologies
that result in a more productive, efficient and plugged-in work force. He can talk about
how A.I. (or Augmented Intelligence) technology can ensure that employees feel plugged in
and connected, whether they're in a start-up or larger organisation.
Professor Osborne will join Professor Nick Bostrom, Director, Future of Humanity
Institute [http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/community/people/nick-bostrom ], to discuss What do
humanity's technological advancements really mean for us and should we be worried?
Professor Bostrom's 2014 book, Superintelligence, suggests how we might prepare for the
time when machines' intelligence far exceeds that of humans. But will they ever be able to
match the depth and breadth of human perception, or respond to the subtle social signals
needed for effective persuasion, negotiation, comfort and care?
Notes to editors:
1 About Silicon Valley Comes to Oxford
Now in its fourteenth year, Silicon Valley Comes to Oxford bridges two world centres
of ideas to explore the big issues and future directions of innovation and entrepreneurial
phenomena in a vibrant and fast paced mix of masterclasses, panel debates, plenaries and
networking events. The leading European entrepreneurship forum, pioneered by the
University of Oxford's Said Business School, brings business leaders and luminaries from
across Silicon Valley and beyond to Oxford for a period of focused interaction with
faculty, research and student members of Oxford University and the British entrepreneurial
ecosystem.
Silicon Valley comes to Oxford 2015 will once again have an impressive line up of
visiting VIPs from the Valley and beyond, including established entrepreneurs, founders of
start-ups, venture capitalists and funders, theorists and policy influencers. A wide range
of technologies and trends will be explored, providing the opportunity to identify future
directions.
2 About The Entrepreneurship Centre at Said Business School
http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/ideas-impact/entrepreneurship
3 About Said Business School
Said Business School at the University of Oxford blends the best of new and old. We
are a vibrant and innovative business school, but yet deeply embedded in an 800 year old
world-class university. We create programmes and ideas that have global impact. We educate
people for successful business careers, and as a community seek to tackle world-scale
problems. We deliver cutting-edge programmes and ground-breaking research that transform
individuals, organisations, business practice, and society. We seek to be a world-class
business school community, embedded in a world-class University, tackling world-scale
problems.
To register to attend, or for further information please contact the press office:
Jonaid Jilani, Press Officer, Mobile: +44(0)7860-259996, Tel: +44(0)1865-614678,
Email: jonaid.jilani@sbs.ox.ac.uk or pressoffice@sbs.ox.ac.uk
Josie Powell, Senior Press Officer, Mobile +44(0)7711-387215, Tel: +44(0)1865-288403,
Email: josie.powell@sbs.ox.ac.uk or pressoffice@sbs.ox.ac.uk
Said Business School