The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping numerous aspects of human society, notably the job market and urban infrastructure. In a recent podcast episode of ‘Zorni kot’, Dr. Domen Mongus, a esteemed professor and researcher at the Faculty of Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science at the University of Maribor, and head of the Center for Smart Cities and Communities, discussed his work on merging diverse geospatial data sources to develop spatially aware AI methods and applications. Dr. Mongus has an impressive collection of research and teaching awards, highlighting his significant contributions to the field.
Dr. Mongus articulated the inevitability of AI in modern times and noted how it’s already been integrated into business processes, enhancing management and reducing carbon footprint. While AI cannot generate novel ideas by itself, it operates within the parameters set by human input, ensuring that its usage complements rather than replaces human creativity. Dr. Mongus believes that AI holds the potential to eradicate numerous routine jobs but also to create new ones, particularly in the domain of preparing learning patterns for AI training.
Dr. Mongus expressed a balanced trust in AI, acknowledging its imperfections and the need for human oversight. Despite being ‘unintelligent’ in terms of creativity, AI is set to significantly alter employment types. For instance, a team of 20,000 people spent half a year just evaluating the appropriateness of responses from an AI model like GPT-3. This indicates the emergence of new jobs focused on refining the learning frameworks that educate AI systems.
The roundtable discussion at the Career Fair at the University of Maribor, where Dr. Mongus was a participant, concluded that AI would inevitably change today’s employment landscape, noting that job seekers and employers alike must educate themselves in this area to remain competitive. This education is mandatory to manage the life cycle of AI systems successfully and to harness their capability to streamline work processes and drive new knowledge discovery.
Integrating AI into Smart Cities: Dr. Mongus sheds light on how AI can play a prominent role in shaping smart cities, contributing to more efficient and sustainable urban environments. AI could optimize traffic flows, public transport, energy consumption, and waste management, which in turn can lead to a reduction in carbon emissions and other pollutants.
AI in the Job Market: While Dr. Mongus points out AI’s potential to automate routine jobs, he also emphasizes the creation of new roles in AI oversight and development. Key challenges include ensuring a workforce that is skilled enough to work alongside AI, dealing with job displacement, and adapting educational curriculums to prepare students for an AI-centric world.
Key Controversies: Critics often highlight the risk of biases in AI, ethical considerations, and the potential loss of privacy. There’s also the fear of AI-powered surveillance within smart cities and the misuse of data. Furthermore, the sustainability of AI in terms of energy consumption has come under scrutiny due to the intensive computational resources required by AI algorithms.
The Future of Work: The transformation of the employment landscape involves both the creation of new industries and the evolution or disappearance of traditional jobs. Employees must adapt by acquiring new skills that complement AI capabilities, while employers must facilitate continuous learning and upskilling opportunities.
Advantages: AI can improve efficiency, reduce human error, and process large volumes of data rapidly, which can transcend to smarter decision-making in both the workplace and smart city planning. It can facilitate predictive maintenance in urban infrastructure, improve public safety, and contribute to better quality of life for residents.
Disadvantages: There are concerns about job displacement, and the societal and psychological impact of diminished human interaction due to AI intermediaries. The creation of a digital divide, ethical considerations, and ensuring equitable access to the benefits of smart cities are also significant concerns.
For those interested in exploring more about smart cities and AI’s role in shaping the future of work, you can visit the domains of leading research institutions or futurist organizations:
– International Telecommunication Union
– Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
It is pertinent to approach these subjects with balanced optimism, vigilance on potential repercussions, and an active role in shaping AI developments to align with ethical and sustainable goals.