AI fears: Mediclinic, for one, is cutting jobs as part of an AI strategy

The Mediclinic hospital group will be cutting jobs and freezing new appointments as part of its artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, parent company Remgro announced this week.

This one local example bears out fears that have been building around the world about the cost to humans as the sophistication of AI technology accelerates.

Stephen Grootes gets some insight from Steven Ambrose, MD of DR Insight.tech.

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While he's hesitant to use the term 'in danger', Ambrose says the reality is there are now LOTS of jobs that can be completed using the various AI-enabled tools - from systems and processes to chatbots.

And the replacement of real people in certain job categories is happening right now, he emphasizes.

Data entry, customer service and front of house employees are at particular risk, says Ambrose.

"When it comes to data entry clerks, there's just no question that AI can input, sort and manage data of that sort far quicker than any human being can tap on a keyboard."

Steven Ambrose, DR Insight

"Then, receptionists - employees and customers are not going into the place of work as often as before, so the receptionist doesn't need to to a FACE; there's just got to be a voice. And electronic voices managed by AI have become scarily good at picking up and directing calls,  taking queries and dealing with numerous day-to-day tasks that humans used to do."

Steven Ambrose, DR Insight

Also starting to be hugely affected is the customer service field, Ambrose goes on.

He does note that this shift to machine intelligence will also result in the creation of some new jobs for humans.

To illustrate the relentless march of AI development, Ambrose highlights the fact that people around the world are switching from favoured search engine Google, to using AI.

"The ease of use of these platforms is growing exponentially."

Steven Ambrose, DR Insight

"If we had to speak in two years time, we honestly wouldn't be having this conversation. We'd have another one -what jobs are left, that exist now. But bear in mind that this shift also creates new jobs."

Steven Ambrose, DR Insight

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