7 OCTOBER | LONDON 2024
SEPTEMBER 12TH - 14TH
The O2, LONDON
Future of Work
Your weekly CogX briefing on HR tech, automation, and the workplace
How to prepare for a future you can’t predict
With AI disrupting fields like medicine, law and technology, a fail-safe career no longer exists. How do you prepare for a future you can’t predict? The key to future success, experts say, is being imaginative — and flexible — with your job and skills.
These were some of the themes explored in Reid Hoffman’s compelling session at the CogX Festival, which examined how AI will amplify our creativity.
Exports warn that in addition to upending the labour market, AI could exacerbate income inequality. And the return to the office has a dirty downside: ramping up commuting means more greenhouse gas emissions, as 68% of UK commuters travel to work by car.
Read about these and other stories — from why the future of work may mean working less, to middle managers’ role in the AI revolution — in the CogX Must-Reads.
CogX Must Reads
How to prepare for a future you can’t predict
Science, engineering and cybersecurity will continue to be in demand — as will careers that involve face-to-face interaction, like nursing and social care. But there’s no longer such a future-proof career. The key to success in an AI-dominated workforce will be being flexible and imaginative with your career choices.
AI could be a boom for the labour market — and perpetuate inequalities
Previous transformative technologies have exacerbated gaps in income inequality. To ensure that doesn’t happen again, we need more focus on AI literacy, training and critical thinking in schools and offices.
Future of the Office
The future of work may mean working less
In a new study, a four-day work week was found to improve employee retention, productivity and happiness — and reduce burnout. 90% of the 41 companies that trialled a 32-hour workweek plan to continue the work pattern
The push to end remote work could make the climate crisis worse
In the UK, the transportation sector emits more greenhouse gases than any other industry — and 68% of people who commute to work travel by car. Fully remote companies, meanwhile, emit less than 1 metric ton of carbon dioxide per year.
AI and Automation
Middle managers play a critical role in the future of work: AI evangelists
Middle managers have to understand AI’s potential, the changing nature of skills, and disruption in their sector. But more importantly, they should act as change agents, helping their teams to understand what AI tools can do for them.
AI is being used to train social care staff
The UK is piloting an AI avatar that will train 20,000 new carers a year. It can address trainees in multiple languages and teach them to spot the signs of stroke. The hope is that the AI will help to address NHS workforce shortages by speeding up onboarding.
Top Stories
In case you missed it
Last year, 18% of LinkedIn job listings in the US were for remote roles. Today, that figure is down to 10% — but a whopping 47% of all job applications were made to that 10% of roles:
We'd love to hear your thoughts on this week’s Issue and what you’d like to see more of.