The Human Side Of Machine Learning

As enterprises bring machine learning into their organizations, many pundits predict that it will lead to massive layoffs. Yet in a recent study we developed with the Economist Intelligence Unit, "Making the Most of Machine Learning: 5 Lessons from Fast Learners," we found evidence that highly skilled human employees will be vital during the transformation and beyond. However, the integration of machine learning will demand completely new ways to define roles and responsibilities, new skills to either build or co-exist with advanced algorithmic labor and perhaps most importantly, a culture built to continuously evolve and learn along with its AI capabilities. Indeed, 75% of organizations surveyed that are already seeing benefits from machine learning, which we call the "fast learners," say that they expect to retrain employees as they increase their use of intelligent automation. The emerging machine learning enterprise will be staffed by people dedicated to, as Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee of the MIT Center for Digital Business have said, "racing with machines as opposed to racing against them" from the very top of the organization and throughout it.