The Impact of Automation

Part of 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services – in the Senedd at 2:58 pm on 29 November 2017.

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Photo of David Melding David Melding Conservative 2:58, 29 November 2017

Cabinet Secretary, it's clear that automation is going to extend to the professional classes as well, such as doctors and many working in the health sector, but also others giving professional advice, and advice through local authorities and the civic sector in general. I think what's important is that much of this will offer a great way to complement those services, basically allowing people to have more time with the professionals they interface with, and for those professionals to put the information—the diagnostic information, for instance—that they're getting from artificial intelligence into a context, and then the follow-up work and ensuring the well-being of that person is foremost in whatever service they're getting. So, I'm not sure it's going to devastate job prospects for everyone, but it will need new protocols and very careful training in how to use this new technology, and that's something, if we want efficient public service, we must be very much aware of.