Amazon's New Jobs in the Age of AI

The Evolving Role of Humans in an AI-Driven Workplace

Within the technology sector, differing perspectives exist regarding the integration of human workers into the increasingly AI-powered environments they are developing. Some anticipate widespread automation, with most jobs being performed by automated systems, excluding perhaps those of leadership. Investor Marc Andreessen, for example, believes his role as an investor is unlikely to be replicated by artificial intelligence.

Job Displacement and Creation

Conversely, a prevalent viewpoint suggests that bots will handle repetitive and undesirable tasks, functioning as assistants to human employees while simultaneously generating entirely new job opportunities. Historical trends lend credence to this latter perspective. The World Economic Forum forecasts the displacement of 92 million roles due to current technological advancements, but also predicts the creation of 170 million new positions.

However, a critical question arises for individuals lacking the financial resources or academic inclination to pursue advanced degrees in AI and machine learning – particularly those currently employed in unskilled labor roles, such as warehouse positions. What will their future hold in a workplace dominated by bots?

Amazon's Vulcan Robot and the Future of Warehouse Work

Amazon recently provided insight into a potential trajectory with the announcement of significant progress in automating warehouse tasks through its new Vulcan robot, equipped with tactile sensing capabilities.

CEO Andy Jassy highlighted that Vulcan contributes to a safer work environment by managing physically demanding tasks, while simultaneously creating opportunities for employees to enhance their skills in robotics maintenance. This was communicated via a post on X.

Amazon’s announcement detailed how the robot will collaborate with human workers, retrieving items from the highest and lowest shelves, thereby eliminating the need for employees to climb ladders or bend excessively. Human employees will then focus on collecting items stored at mid-levels and those that the robot, despite its “feeling” capabilities, is currently unable to handle.

Simultaneously, Amazon is investing in training a select group of warehouse workers to become robot technicians, as the bot assumes a larger role in the warehouse picking process.

Retraining and the Changing Skillset

The company reports that these robots – responsible for fulfilling 75% of customer orders – have already generated hundreds of new job categories, ranging from robotic floor monitors to onsite reliability maintenance engineers. Amazon also offers a job retraining program to equip workers with the necessary skills for these robotic maintenance roles.

It’s important to note that this transition will likely not be a one-to-one replacement. The number of humans required to oversee the robots will likely be significantly less than the number currently needed to directly fulfill warehouse orders. Furthermore, not all individuals will possess the aptitude or desire to become robot mechanics.

However, Amazon’s inclusion of information regarding its retraining program alongside the Vulcan announcement is noteworthy.

The Post-Automation Landscape

This is because concrete examples of what a workplace fully populated by robots will look like for working-class individuals have been scarce. One AI startup founder even suggested that, in a fully automated world, humans would rely on government-provided welfare.

A more plausible scenario involves the emergence of roles such as “automation monitors,” similar to the clerk currently overseeing self-checkout lanes. Instead of fast-food cooks, workers would supervise cooking robots, and so on. Operating robots could become a fundamental skill, akin to computer literacy, essential for employability.

Potential Limitations and Real-World Adoption

However, this fully automated future may not fully materialize. Bots could remain largely confined to large, financially robust companies – like Amazon or those utilizing them in automotive manufacturing – while the majority of jobs in retail, restaurants, and transportation continue to be performed by humans, potentially for decades to come.

It’s worth remembering that Amazon previously attempted to market its just-walk-out automation technology, Amazon Go, to a broader retail and grocery industry. However, the industry, wary of its largest competitor, showed limited interest. The technology was later found to rely on human workers in India for video monitoring and labeling, and Amazon subsequently scaled back its implementation. Similar technologies, from Amazon and other companies, remain relatively uncommon in practical applications today.