Technical possibilities are not the only factor
Technical potential for automation is not enough on its own. The assessment of how much will occur must reflect also the benefits and costs (or the business case), the supply-and-demand dynamics of labor, and regulatory and social factors (acceptability of an automated solution), according to the mckinsey.com website.
Knowledge work cannot be automated yet
With currently available technologies, it is hard to automate managing and developing people (only 9 % potential for automation) or activities that apply expertise to decision making, planning, or creative work (18 % potential). Examples of these activities are coding software, creating menus, or writing promotional materials.
Today, computers do an excellent job with well-defined activities (such as optimizing trucking routes). However, humans are still needed to determine goals, to interpret results, and check the solutions with common sense. The importance of human interaction is evident in healthcare and education.
Overall, healthcare has a technical potential for automation of about 36 %. This potential is lower for health workers who use their expertise and are in direct contact with patients. Roughly one third of the activities of a nurse could be automated. For dental hygienists, only 13 %.
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