The promise of a fully automated future, once a staple of science fiction, is facing a stark reality check. Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, predicted in years past that by 2025, 10% of vehicles on U.S. Roads would be self-driving. While autonomous vehicles exist and are theoretically road-ready, the infrastructure required for their widespread adoption remains a significant hurdle.
This disconnect between futuristic visions and present-day realities is a recurring theme, according to a recent analysis of technological progress. The anticipated leaps forward in automation and artificial intelligence have not materialized at the pace once projected, leading some to question whether civilization has stalled technologically compared to previous eras.
The potential impact of automation on the workforce is a central concern. Marek Szymaniak’s recent book, “Młócka. Reportaże o pracy przyszłości” (Młócka. Reports on the Future of Function), details the likely consequences of these technological shifts. Szymaniak argues that professions like taxi and bus drivers, along with numerous other roles, are increasingly vulnerable to displacement.
“The development of technology brings opportunities, sometimes freeing us from toil and drudgery. But we usually focus so much on the benefits of progress, seeing what we gain from it, that we do not notice what we lose with it,” Szymaniak writes. “Do we see those who lose stability, fundamental rights and identity, and instead experience fear and uncertainty?”
Schwab, in his book “The Fourth Industrial Revolution,” identified several professions particularly susceptible to automation. These include telemarketers, insurance adjusters, sports referees and arbitrators, corporate lawyers, and real estate brokers. A report by the Polish Economic Institute, “AI on the Polish Labor Market,” corroborates these findings, indicating that approximately 3.7 million Polish workers – 2.16 million of whom are women – are employed in fields facing significant disruption from artificial intelligence. The report highlights finance, law, public administration, and programming as sectors with a high concentration of jobs at risk.
The implications extend beyond job displacement. Szymaniak’s work suggests a widening gap between those who benefit from technological advancements and those who are negatively impacted, with corporations and influential figures like those at the World Economic Forum potentially accumulating greater wealth at the expense of the broader population.
