What To Do When Machines Do Everything

“How will you adapt to a future where machines do everything? The answers could redefine your career and your business.”

1. Fear of New Technology Has Always Existed

Our anxiety over machines is nothing new. History shows us that fear arises whenever transformative technology emerges.

In the nineteenth century, the Luddites protested against mechanical looms, viewing them as threats to their livelihood in the textile industry. Over in the United States, agriculture once employed 80 percent of the workforce, but machines like tractors replaced much of that manual labor, leaving less than 2 percent in farming roles today. Fears arise whenever people see their way of life under threat, but the truth is, we’ve adapted every time.

These fears linger today, amplified by studies like Oxford’s 2013 report saying that half of US jobs are at risk of automation. Yet, past technological revolutions show that we don’t just lose jobs—we create different ones. The cycle of anxiety and adaptation repeats.

Interestingly, despite massive investment in technology like smartphones and software, productivity rates haven’t surged compared to prior decades. This paradox suggests we may need to rethink how we approach the incoming wave of automation.

Examples

• 19th-century Luddites destroyed mechanical looms to preserve jobs.
• Less than 2 percent of Americans now work in agriculture versus 80 percent in the 1800s due to farming technology.
• Productivity increases from 1991-2012 were half those seen from 1970-1990 despite advancements.

2. Machines Don’t Just Eliminate Jobs, They Redefine Them

While automation often replaces tasks, it doesn’t mean entire occupations will vanish. Many roles evolve instead of disappearing.

Take teachers. Automation may handle grade input or repetitive homework assessment, freeing humans to focus on improving classroom interactions. Automation for factory workers reduces tasks like repetition on an assembly line without removing the job entirely. By sharing the workload with machines, people can dedicate energy to more impactful or creative work.

Additionally, data shows that while automation may displace workers temporarily, it also creates new professions. Over the next ten years, experts expect about 19 million jobs in the US to be replaced by automation but anticipate 21 million new roles emerging too.

Examples

• Teachers can skip grading homework thanks to automated software, focusing on student development.
• Forrester Research indicates that dull, repetitive tasks—like grading or heavy manual labor—are targets for automation.
• In 2009’s tough economy, 15 million private sector jobs were created despite losses.

3. Modern Machines Thrive on Massive Data Sets

Today’s machines aren’t just physical; they exist in the digital world as systems that process immense quantities of data.

Take Uber—a single app coordinates drivers, calculates routes, sends receipts, and processes payments effortlessly. How? By analyzing patterns in massive data sets. Similarly, Facebook’s algorithm learns user preferences from billions of clicks, tailoring content uniquely for each user. These “systems of intelligence” are fueled by data, learning from patterns and increasing efficiency over time.

This data-driven nature isn’t just about logistics or advertising; it redefines how industries function. Businesses now improve decision-making, streamline operations, and create entirely new services just by understanding patterns hidden in oceans of data.

Examples

• Uber utilizes millions of data inputs (routes, trip times, ratings) to improve customer experience.
• Facebook curates user feeds based on click patterns from billions of users.
• Google’s algorithms tailor searches, evolving with every interaction.

4. Collect and Instrument Data Relentlessly

In the era of automation, data is as valuable as coal or oil was in past revolutions. Smart businesses are “instrumenting” every part of their operation to extract actionable insights.

Think about smartphones versus older, basic “dumbphones.” Phones evolved into tools that don’t just communicate—they gather and process data on calls, messages, location, and more. CEOs today should ask themselves: Is my business still a “dumbphone”? Futurists predict that by 2025, even desks, shoes, and toothbrushes will join smartphones in collecting data to improve efficiency.

Organizations that maximize their data through tools like business analytics consistently outperform competitors. Data-driven strategies can reduce costs and boost revenues by about 8 percent on both ends, proving that smart systems lead to smarter businesses.

Examples

• Early cell phones couldn’t store numbers—now smartphones gather location, user habits, and activity.
• Modern toothbrushes collect brushing habits to suggest improvements.
• Data-driven companies cut average costs by 8 percent while increasing revenue equally.

5. Adapt Business Models to Satisfy Millennials

Millennials, raised amidst apps and instant technology, expect more from businesses—traditional models won’t suffice anymore.

For example, paper-based banking feels archaic to younger generations accustomed to immediacy. Today’s customer doesn’t want to fill out paperwork or wait days for approval—they expect to open an app and receive results in minutes. Industries like airlines blend digital processes (online boarding passes, in-flight Wi-Fi) with physical workflows to satisfy tech-savvy customers.

By adapting to a hybrid model of physical and digital operations, businesses bridge the gap, keeping up with competition while engaging younger audiences.

Examples

• Traditional banks move online to issue approvals faster and bypass endless paperwork.
• Airlines digitize ticketing but still operate physical transport systems.
• Millennials prefer swift app interactions over old-fashioned phone calls or waiting rooms.

6. Start Automation With Back-Office Operations

White-collar tasks like payroll processing and customer support are ripe for automation. By starting in the back office, businesses can push progress without affecting front-end customer experiences right away.

Take journalism: many articles are already written by algorithms. Software like Narrative Science produces real estate listings and sports recaps seamlessly. In human resources or finance departments, automation tools handle data entry and monetary calculations, allowing employees to spend time on more strategic or creative projects.

By targeting routine clerical roles first, businesses reduce inefficiencies and create smoother pathways for innovation in their customer-facing roles.

Examples

• The Associated Press publishes 20,000 auto-generated articles annually, from sports stories to weather updates.
• Financial departments automate payroll and tax documentation, saving hours of repetitive effort.
• Customer inquiries are frequently handled by AI chatbots before escalating to human staff.

7. Silicon Valley Disruption Is Coming For All Industries

Tech companies are innovating aggressively, using systems of intelligence to rewrite rules in established industries. If traditional businesses don’t adapt, they risk losing out.

For instance, look at companies like Airbnb that disrupted hospitality by creating platforms instead of physical locations. Similarly, Amazon’s logistics optimization in its warehouses is reshaping retail. Every sector—from manufacturing to healthcare—is a potential target for data-driven technologies that improve speed and scale.

Businesses holding back their transformation efforts, unwilling to digitize, will struggle to compete in this newly automated era.

Examples

• Airbnb disrupted hotels by offering app-driven booking for private accommodations.
• Amazon maximized warehouse efficiency through robotics and data.
• The taxi industry faces challenges from Uber’s streamlined, data-centric model.

8. Automation Will Elevate Quality, Not Just Save Costs

Robots are often seen as a way to cut expenses, but automation improves output quality too.

For example, pharmaceutical manufacturing uses robotic precision to ensure consistent drug quality, preventing errors caused by human fatigue. Automating customer support with AI provides faster help on basic questions while collecting valuable data for improving future responses. Automation empowers workers to focus on high-value activities, translating to better products or services.

By seeing automation as more than a cut-cost measure, businesses can enhance both efficiency and excellence.

Examples

• AI in pharmaceutical labs reduces the margin of error in drug production.
• Automated chatbots answer 24x7, improving customer access without delays.
• Self-checkout stations at grocery stores offer faster, error-free billing.

9. Tomorrow’s Workforce Will Combine Human Strengths With Machine Precision

As machines handle repetitive tasks, human roles will evolve to emphasize creativity, empathy, and complex decision-making.

For instance, doctors won’t just diagnose—they’ll interpret AI-powered results and provide holistic care. Designers and marketers will lean on AI to analyze trends while focusing on crafting unique, imaginative campaigns. The office workers of the future will collaborate with systems, achieving results neither could alone.

By embracing the possibilities of collaboration, humanity and automation can grow in harmony rather than opposition.

Examples

• AI scans X-rays quickly while doctors interpret findings and deliver care.
• Data analytics tools spot trends, enabling human marketers to craft better campaigns.
• Collaborative robots (“cobots”) help assembly line workers manage heavy tasks.

Takeaways

1. Map out redundant tasks in your workplace and explore automation software to address them.
2. Encourage employees to design theoretical technologies that might outperform your business’s current offerings.
3. Start by restructuring your back office to digitize processes, from payroll management to basic customer service questions.