What a great one (topic). Well AI is here, changing the way we see the world, and the debate on/over what jobs AI should or shouldn’t take feels deeply personal. As a Nigerian, I am looking at this issue through some certain lenses, that of our culture, our struggles and our joy, indeed AI can be helpful, but it must be careful,bbecause work here isn’t just about earning money.
I would suggest AI take the boring and repetitive jobs, those jobs nobody really wakes up excited about, jobs like data entry, those calculating works like accounting, am saying that jobs that don't require much empathy, human feeling or creativity be handed over to the machines. See traffic management for example, all those danfo buss in Lagos won't just go up and down unnecessarily, or farming, am saying AI can automate planting and harvesting while leaving/allowing the farmers to focus on strategies, I want to say , personally for me, this are the areqs AI can thrive and shine without stepping on too many toes.
Now there are certain jobs AI should never go close to nor touch because they (those jobs) require something a machine can’t provide, the human warmth. One of such is the Teaching profession. Here In Nigeria, teachers aren’t just knowledge givers, they shape lifes. A teacher might notice that a child is struggling and take on the role of you know...a second parent. Can AI ever understand scolding a child in one moment and offering them sweets or a shoulder to lean on the next moment. Our classrooms don’t need robots, they need real people who understand that education goes way beyond textbooks.
Also, same goes for the healthcare professions, I do accept that usage of AI here should be considered but minimal, AI can really help diagnose illnesses or suggest treatments very fast, but when it comes to holding someones hand when they’re scared of bad news, how does AI does that, our nurses and doctors know how to crack jokes, pray with patients, and even call family members to reassure them, but a robot can’t replicate that. You just Imagine being told you need surgery by a cold, emotionless machine, how would you feel, no human feeling, no reassurances, that look of it will go smoothly, non if it is there. AI should/can be the tool in the doctor’s hand, not the doctor itself.
Next is about art and creativity. AI can’t create like humans do because it doesn’t feel. How do you expect it to sing like the late Fela, who does out of human feeling and pain, or how would it understand the humors in Kenny Blacks comedy or Funnybros skits. Creativity is ours, AI should just stick to organizing and recommending music's, movies and not making one.
Let's talk about handworks too, Imagine AI took over hairdressing, all those chitchats with the customer and hairdressers, those various gossips and all, there will be an end to all of that, and hsir stylist shops would just be boring no more chats with your stylist about life.
Imagine also, if it (AI) ran our local markets. AI doesn’t know how to argue like a Nigerian will do. It doesn’t understand the joy of hearing “Oga, oya I go comot price for you” (Boss, I will reduce the price a bit for you) after 10 minutes of negotiation. These things keeps us alive and shouldn’t/cannot be replaced, not by AI.
AI is a tool and should remain one, not a replacement for humanity. It should do the heavy lifting and leave the compassionate, empathetic work to us (Humans). Interaction and connections are important, relationships matter. We will not just be unemployed, we will lose some part of who we are If we let AI take over jobs that require empathy, creativity and all.
AI should handle the traffic jams, paperworks, let it help plant yams, cassava and all, but when it comes to teaching a child, comforting a patient, selling garri, rice in the market, let’s keep that human, our humanity is our strength. Let’s make sure to use it(AI)wisely, not carelessly.
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