Amid the tense debate over future work in a highly digital age, when young people are struggling to stay afloat in a rapidly changing job market, it is the view of a business executive that machines are no longer just tools; they are becoming co-workers.
The Deputy Managing Director of CalBank, Johnson Oware, believes that modern machines and technology are currently competitors of human workers, not mere complements.
Speaking on the sidelines of Reimagining the Future of Work, an initiative by the youth arm of CalBank in partnership with the LEC Group, Johnson Oware reflected on how quickly artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping the world of work.
He recounted how what used to be human strengths, which were the ability to learn on the job, adapt to changing situations, and think through problems, are now skills that machines are rapidly mastering.
“There are intelligent machines that are able to learn. They are able to adapt. These were values and very important skills that we thought, in the past, could generate a lot of work for people. Today, they are also intelligent. The machines are able to adapt,” he narrated.
He feared that if machines can learn, improve, work faster, and never get tired, what happens to those whose only advantage is their talent?
The New Battlefield: Adapt or Fall Behind
Johnson Oware, therefore, indicated that the rise of digital employees, whether in the form of AI systems, automated platforms, or machine-driven processes, has created an environment where talent alone is no longer enough.
The jobs that once offered security are now the very ones being redesigned, restructured, or replaced entirely.
From banks deploying AI to manage risk assessments, to customer service units shifting to chatbots, to factories relying on automated assembly lines, technology is taking over tasks once performed by humans, and it is doing so at a large scale.
He says the technology is no longer just machines, describes them as digital employees, threatening the human employees.
“So these digital employees have become a threat to the human employees,” he emphasized.
The Deputy MD for CalBank emphasized that this shift is not slowing down, and the only way for the youth to stay relevant is to become bolder about self-improvement.
A Call to Action for the Youth
He, however, was quick to add that all hope is not lost yet, as there is room for humans who will properly position themselves.
He stressed the rising global consensus that workers must pair their natural abilities with new skills, especially digital literacy, problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability.
In a world where machines are acquiring human-like capabilities, humans must cultivate the uniquely human strengths machines still struggle with, such as empathy, leadership, innovation, emotional intelligence, and complex judgment.
He noted, “We are encouraging the youth to self-improve continuously. Be audacious. Talent is no longer enough.”
The Bottomline
While digital employees pose a challenge, they also present new opportunities. The experts have noted that technology-driven roles, entrepreneurship, and blended human-machine workspaces are emerging.
But succeeding in these spaces requires intentional growth, constant learning, and readiness to evolve.
The threat is real, but so is the chance to rise above it.
