How Can We Prevent a 'Useless Class' in the Age of AI and Automation?

Historian Yuval Noah Harari has a dystopian vision of the future. He envisions a "useless class" emerging, people without purpose in a workplace dominated by AI and intelligent robots. Those without the required competencies are out. No purpose. Unneeded. Useless.

How will they feel? What consequences will it have? I don’t know. But I don’t like it.

I’m concerned for my own family. My teenagers go from being excited about studying to wanting to spend all their time on TikTok. I fear they might walk their way into the “useless class” without ever realising what they have done.

Seeking answers, I turned to another academic. Jon-Arild Johannessen's Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and the Future of Competence at Work explores various options. It is not a page turner unless you enjoy diving deep.

In the book he describes a future workplace with STEM skills being in high demand and providing the best jobs. This prediction, echoed by others over time, underscores the lasting significance of STEM. He talks about developing other skills too, but what caught my attention is his discussion on creativity.

In a world where routine tasks are increasingly automated, he says, we will have more free time. The need for innovation gets stronger. He emphasises the "hidden skill" of creativity and the idea that innovation blossoms when different domains intersect, a concept not entirely new. The proposed solution is cross-domain education—encouraging expertise in two different areas. Steve Jobs is a notable example, having blended a passion for calligraphy with technology. Could mixing domains be the key to avoiding the “useless class”?

On the flip side, Harari warns that AI is becoming exceptionally skilful at creativity, already outperforming humans in some areas. What if AI not only exceeds but also becomes dominant in every possible area?

The truth is, the future is uncertain, with aspects beyond our control. Yet, in this uncertainty, we have the power to make a difference by caring for those around us. It is crucial for us to persistently strive to avoid the bleak scenario of a "useless class" – a situation that could affect not only our own children but society as a whole.