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Python Data Science Handbook

The document discusses the importance of lifelong learning in a time where technology is rapidly changing the skills needed for work. It notes that while education provides a foundation, learning does not end in school. As automation increases, the demand for routine jobs is declining while the demand for advanced cognitive and behavioral skills is growing. To survive in this changing environment, individuals must focus on skills like critical thinking, problem solving, curiosity and creativity to adapt quickly to new circumstances. The key trait that has enabled human progress is our ability to continuously learn, unlearn and relearn. Those who refuse to adapt and grow will be left behind, so people should focus on upskilling themselves through lifelong learning rather than worrying about technologies replacing jobs.

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157 views2 pages

Python Data Science Handbook

The document discusses the importance of lifelong learning in a time where technology is rapidly changing the skills needed for work. It notes that while education provides a foundation, learning does not end in school. As automation increases, the demand for routine jobs is declining while the demand for advanced cognitive and behavioral skills is growing. To survive in this changing environment, individuals must focus on skills like critical thinking, problem solving, curiosity and creativity to adapt quickly to new circumstances. The key trait that has enabled human progress is our ability to continuously learn, unlearn and relearn. Those who refuse to adapt and grow will be left behind, so people should focus on upskilling themselves through lifelong learning rather than worrying about technologies replacing jobs.

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The Constant Learner.

Nelson Mandela, the first president of post-apartheid South Africa, once said, “Education is
the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a
peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the
mine, that the child of a farmworker can become the president of a great nation. It is what
we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from
another.” But does learning end in school? Could you ever say that you know everything?

According to the World Development Report (2019)- The Changing Nature of Work,
technology is reshaping the skills needed for work. The demand for less advanced skills that
can be replaced by technology is declining. Adding to it, automation is restyling work and
the skills demanded for it. The adoption of technology makes insufficient jobs obsolete. In
today’s time one can almost not fathom if the respondent at the other end of customer
support is a robot or a human. The demand for advanced cognitive skills and behavioural
skills is increasing, whereas the demand for narrow job-specific skills is waning.

Working in Robotic process automation domain I could clearly see why customers want to
move away from redundant rule-based jobs and focus the energy of workforce towards
complex decision-making processes. Organization’s reason to adopt automation may vary
depending on their sector, market, competitors etc but the underlying reason of efficiently
using human resource remains the same. Technology is changing so fast that it is hard to
anticipate which skills will thrive and which will become obsolete in near future. In the past,
shifts in skill requirements prompted by technological progress took centuries to manifest
themselves, In the digital era, advances in technology call for new skills seemingly overnight.
Creating a skilled workforce for the future has become a must for all organizations in all
regions of the world.

Advent of intelligent technologies in automation is the next step in learning. Artificial


Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Intelligent Character
Recognition etc., these machineries are bridging whatever little technological gap was
present. Human intervention could be completely removed owing to the efficient work of
robots. All these combined with global connectivity and efficient equipment would
complete the job much faster for humans.

So, what are we supposed to today when Artificial Intelligence has already started the job of
thinking for us? Is this our purpose that could be easily replaced by a robot? I often wonder,
if humans are at the top of the evolutionary ladder how could machines surpass us? After all
we created machines with our superior intellect to work for us. Even if machines become
intelligent enough to learn we would always remain the teacher.

The distinguishing factor remains what Darwin theorized “Survival of the fittest”. The trait
that has enabled human since prehistoric era is adaptability. The ability to respond
to unexpected circumstances and to unlearn and relearn quickly. This trait requires a
combination of certain cognitive skills (critical thinking, problem solving) and socio-
behavioural skills (curiosity, creativity). In one word the skill set that keeps human race
progressing is lifelong learning.

World has witnessed giants like Nokia and Kodak tumbling due to reluctance to adapt. If one
refuses to grow, they are cast out. Rather than worrying about fifth generation technologies
replacing jobs we should focus on up-skilling ourselves. Innovation has always transformed
living standards. Technology provides opportunities to create new jobs, increase
productivity, and deliver effective public services. Through innovation, technology generates
new sectors and new tasks.

Ten years ago, we did not know smartphones would become our lifelines. We did not know
much about apps and the skills required to develop them. Similarly, ten years from now
there would be jobs about which we do not know yet. We do not how to prepare for them,
but what we could do right now is keep moving gradually and progress every day.
Learning is a lifelong process. We are never too old to learn something new. Keep learning
and keep contributing, as someone truly said,
“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what
you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.”

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