Industry 4.0’s Artificial Intelligence – A Blessing and a Nightmare for the Workforce

Abstract

The nature of work has been changing since the invention of machine tools during the First Industrial Revolutions in the mid-1700s. In recent years, advancements in technology have accelerated the rate of change in work, particularly with the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is also referred to as Industry 4.0. One of the notable fruits of Industry 4.0 is artificial intelligence (AI). It has come as a blessing to industry because of its tremendous contribution to improved productivity. Industry is now able to produce more for less with more precision, thanks to advancements in technology that have brought about AI. For the workforce, AI can be seen as a blessing to the extent that it is a tool that makes work light. This has the potential to lower labor costs because work that needs to be done by many people can be done by fewer people. However, artificial intelligence is also a nightmare because of its potential to threaten job security, workplace safety, and worker well-being. This chapter discusses the advantages of AI, the challenges that it poses (including ethical issues, fears of the unknown, alienation, worker safety, and job insecurity), and the pedagogical implications of AI (including reskilling, adoption of strategies for lifelong learning, experiential learning, holistic learning, and multidisciplinary learning). The chapter also recommends that workforce development institutions should adopt learner-centered pedagogical approaches which foster experiential learning, prepare learners for lifelong learning, and facilitate acquisition of soft skills (such as communication, problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking).