This is just one of the many historical examples where change and innovation has been feared and fought against. A psychologist might argue that our resistance to change is due to our primal fear of ‘The other’ or unknown, however if we consider that as a society we have been conditioned to define ourselves by our job and that to be productive is to be a good member of society, then it is no wonder that we often rebel when our very understanding of who we are and where we fit in society is being disrupted. This is especially true as we enter the era of Cyber Physical Systems and Smart Machines which are disrupting roles previously unaffected by mechanisation and automation. Roles that were previously considered uniquely human.

Gartner, the global analyst firm, predict that AI will wipe out 1.8 million jobs but will have generated a further 2.3 million jobs by 2020. It's within this statement that we can see the tide turning and perceptions changing from naysayers to hopeful advocates. AI is gradually becoming normal, we even allow it to automate parts of our everyday life that we never thought possible. From conversing with a chatbot to relying on intelligent personal assistants to organise our diaries or even letting it make a medical diagnosis. Although we are willing to accept new technology in our personal lives, it is still in the world of work that we struggle to embrace it which returns to our fear of losing how we define ourselves in relation to society. As Gartner’s prediction illustrates, jobs will not disappear but the nature of what we do will change. If we consider that only 45% of the working day is spent doing meaningful work and the rest is spent doing things like admin or reading emails, then it stands to reason that smart technologies could be applied to alleviate this, meaning that we could focus on more valuable, rewarding and enjoyable work.

Vinnie Merchandani, author of 'Silicon Collar' explains in his book “Machines will become more of our colleagues and we should not be so worried about their increased presence in the future … If anything they will take our outstanding workers and make them even better.” AI and Cyber Physical Systems will enable us to be more human and as a result re-skill and re-define who we are as individuals and our place in society. As we enter the Fourth Industrial Revolution there are two choices - to be a Luddite and refuse to acknowledge the apparent benefits on the horizon or embrace the pace of change and reap the reward.