What To Do When Machines Do Everything Book Summary - What To Do When Machines Do Everything Book explained in key points
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What To Do When Machines Do Everything summary

Malcolm Frank Paul Roehrig Ben Pring

How To Get Ahead In A World Of AI, Algorithms, Bots and Big Data

4.1 (164 ratings)
15 mins

Brief summary

What To Do When Machines Do Everything by Malcolm Frank, Paul Roehrig and Ben Pring is a thought-provoking book that explores how businesses can thrive in a world of automation. It provides a roadmap for embracing technology and adapting to the changing economic landscape.

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    What To Do When Machines Do Everything
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    New technologies have always been a cause for concern, not optimism.  

    Does it ever feel like you have more employment worries than ever before? These days, it can seem like there’s a new trend emerging every day that threatens our jobs and brings us closer to bowing before our robot overlords.

    Now, you might think these are new anxieties. But the fact is, we’ve been at this crossroads before. You can look back at history books or old business pages of any newspaper and see that workers have been feeling threatened by “new machines” for centuries. The only thing that’s changed is the type of machine prompting these worries.

    For example, during the first industrial revolution in the nineteenth century, workers in England, calling themselves the Luddites, destroyed the mechanical looms being introduced to the textile industry. The Luddites believed these machines were threatening their jobs – and sure enough, the machines did replace them.

    Also during the early nineteenth century, 80 percent of US workers had a job in agriculture. But that figure has dropped to less than 2 percent due to the machines that perform the major tasks associated with farming, tending to livestock and toiling the land.

    Therefore, in 2013, when a study at Oxford University predicted that half of all American jobs were under threat of being automated over the next decade, people were right to be concerned.

    But what about the optimists who argue that computers are making us more productive? Unfortunately, the statistics tell a different story.

    Despite the billions invested in the consumer technology of smartphones and apps, as well as business-minded hardware and software of PCs and databases, productivity hasn’t changed much. Plus, when you compare the increase in annual wages in the United States from 1991 to 2012, it was roughly half the increase that took place between 1970 and 1990.

    So what does all this add up to? Let’s keep digging and find out.

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    What is What To Do When Machines Do Everything about?

    What To Do When Machines Do Everything (2017) takes a realistic look at what lies ahead for traditional jobs when industries adopt the next wave of automation: How can automation be incorporated into current business models? What should workers and managers expect? And what will happen to the economy as a whole?

    What To Do When Machines Do Everything Review

    What To Do When Machines Do Everything (2017) delves into the impact of emerging technologies on our economy and society, presenting a roadmap for success in the age of automation. Here's why this book is worth your time:

    • It offers insightful analysis of the current and future state of automation, helping readers understand how it affects various industries and occupations.
    • The book provides practical strategies for individuals and organizations to navigate the technological revolution and thrive in a changing world.
    • With its compelling case studies and thought-provoking examples, it keeps readers engaged, challenging conventional thinking about the future of work.

    Best quote from What To Do When Machines Do Everything

    Have PCs, smartphones, and e-mail shortened your working day? Ours neither.

    —Malcolm Frank, Paul Roehrig and Ben Pring
    example alt text

    Who should read What To Do When Machines Do Everything?

    • Readers interested in artificial intelligence or new digital technologies
    • Entrepreneurs interested in automating their workforce
    • Students of business strategy

    About the Author

    Malcolm Frank, Paul Roehrig and Ben Pring are all leading figures at Cognizant, a technology consultancy with over 250,000 employees worldwide. They are also the authors of Code Halos: How the Digital Lives of People, Things, and Organizations are Changing the Rules of Business.

    © Malcolm Frank, Paul Roehrig and Ben Pring: What To Do When Machines Do Everything copyright 2017, John Wiley & Sons Inc. Used by permission of John Wiley & Sons Inc. and shall not be made available to any unauthorized third parties.

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    What To Do When Machines Do Everything FAQs 

    What is the main message of What To Do When Machines Do Everything?

    The main message of What To Do When Machines Do Everything is how humans can adapt and thrive in the age of AI and automation.

    How long does it take to read What To Do When Machines Do Everything?

    The reading time for What To Do When Machines Do Everything depends on the reader, but it usually takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is What To Do When Machines Do Everything a good book? Is it worth reading?

    What To Do When Machines Do Everything is a valuable read for those interested in the future of work. It provides insights into the challenges and opportunities brought by automation.

    Who is the author of What To Do When Machines Do Everything?

    The authors of What To Do When Machines Do Everything are Malcolm Frank, Paul Roehrig, and Ben Pring.

    What to read after What To Do When Machines Do Everything?

    If you're wondering what to read next after What To Do When Machines Do Everything, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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    • Competing in the Age of AI by Marco Iansiti & Karim R. Lakhani
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