Istanbul: Amid the advancements in AI and robotics that have swept the world in recent years, a lot of uncertainty-based concerns about the future are reaching the level of anxiety, with millions afraid of losing their jobs. AI tools, frequently used in almost every field, and robots make many tasks easier, from the industry to the kitchen. But will they one day stand before us and take our jobs?

According to Anadolu Agency, futurist Gerd Leonhard suggests a different direction for the future of work. "In 10, maybe 15, 20 years, people probably will have less work as humans. So, we can only work three or four hours a day for the same money because the machines do most of the work," he shared during Trkiye E-Commerce Week. The event, organized by the Trade Ministry, the Electronic Commerce Operators Association (ETID), and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), saw Anadolu serving as the global communication partner.

Leonhard explained that while many jobs will be replaced by machines, new opportunities will emerge. He noted that jobs with a high percentage of routine tasks, such as those in call centers, are at risk. Conversely, roles that require creativity and human intuition, like therapists, artists, and designers, will continue to thrive. "If your job is 90% routine, you're out of a job, like in the call center," Leonhard elaborated. "In the next couple of years, we will have almost 100% possibility of people calling and talking to a robot and solving problems."

Leonhard believes that the future will also see a shift in how society values traditionally unpaid work, such as caregiving and social work. As machines take over routine tasks, humans will have the opportunity to pursue roles that require emotional intelligence and creativity. He emphasized, "A machine would make a very bad writer because it has no emotions. It doesn't exist. So, all the jobs that require us to be more human, more intuition, imagination, negotiation, understanding."

Furthermore, Leonhard expressed optimism about technology solving significant global challenges. "I'm excited about the possibility of technology solving big problems like cancer, medical problems, obesity, diabetes, like solving energy, nuclear fusion, like solving travel and space travel," he said, highlighting the potential of technology to improve lives globally.

Leonhard concluded by encouraging collaboration in harnessing technology for the greater good. "People are not going to collaborate to make the technology actually work for everybody and to agree on what they should do and not do. But we also have to believe that humans are capable of creating new things," he stated, urging people to adopt a positive outlook on the future.