The Future Of Work — IELTS Reading Answers

The first paragraph tells us about

1. Athe kinds of jobs that will be most affected by the growth of AI.
2. Bthe extent to which AI will alter the nature of the work that people do.correct
3. Cthe proportion of the world’s labour force who will have jobs in AI in the future.
4. Dthe difference between ways that embodied and disembodied AI will impact on workers.

“Automation — or ‘embodied artificial intelligence’ (AI) — is one aspect of the disruptive effects of technology on the labour market.”

The first paragraph says automation is 'one aspect of the disruptive effects of technology on the labour market', how far AI will change the nature of work, so B.

According to the second paragraph, what is Stella Pachidi’s view of the ‘knowledge economy’?

1. AIt is having an influence on the number of jobs available.
2. BIt is changing people’s attitudes towards their occupations.
3. CIt is the main reason why the production sector is declining.
4. DIt is a key factor driving current developments in the workplace.correct

“Algorithms are capable of learning from data to undertake tasks that previously needed human judgement, such as reading legal contracts, analysing medical scans and gathering market intelligence.”

Pachidi says 'some of the most fundamental changes are happening as a result of the algorithmication of jobs', a key driver of workplace change, so D.

What did Pachidi observe at the telecommunications company?

1. Astaff disagreeing with the recommendations of AI
2. Bstaff feeling resentful about the intrusion of AI in their work
3. Cstaff making sure that AI produces the results that they wantcorrect
4. Dstaff allowing AI to carry out tasks they ought to do themselves

“Pachidi and colleagues even observed people developing strategies to make the algorithm work to their own advantage.”

At the telecom company she observed 'people developing strategies to make the algorithm work to their own advantage', staff ensuring AI gives the results they want, so C.

In his recently published research, Ewan McGaughey

1. Achallenges the idea that redundancy is a negative thing.
2. Bshows the profound effect of mass unemployment on society.
3. Chighlights some differences between past and future job losses.
4. Dillustrates how changes in the job market can be successfully handled.correct

“If there is going to be change to jobs as a result of AI and robotics then I’d like to see governments seizing the opportunity to improve policy to enforce good job security. We can “reprogramme” the law to prepare for a fairer future of work and leisure.”

McGaughey wants governments 'seizing the opportunity to improve policy to enforce good job security', showing job-market change can be handled successfully, so D.

“Dr Stella Pachidi from Cambridge Judge Business School believes that some of the most fundamental changes are happening as a result of the ‘algorithmication’ of jobs that are dependent on data rather than on production — the so-called knowledge economy.”

The gap needs the source of change in data-based jobs; 'the algorithmication of jobs that are dependent on data' fits G.

“In cases like this, Pachidi believes, a short-sighted view begins to creep into working practices whereby workers learn through the ‘algorithm’s eyes’ and become dependent on its instructions.”

The gap needs the resulting dependence; workers 'learn through the algorithm's eyes and become dependent on its instructions', so E.

“Alternative explorations — where experimentation and human instinct lead to progress and new ideas — are effectively discouraged.”

The gap needs what is discouraged; 'alternative explorations - where experimentation and human instinct lead to progress' are 'effectively discouraged', so C.

“Their objective is to make AI technologies more trustworthy and transparent, so that organisations and individuals understand how AI decisions are made.”

The gap needs the aim of making AI trustworthy; 'to make AI technologies more trustworthy and transparent' fits F.

Greater levels of automation will not result in lower employment.

“On the subject of job losses, Low believes the predictions are founded on a fallacy: ‘It assumes that the number of jobs is fixed. If in 30 years, half of 100 jobs are being carried out by robots, that doesn’t mean we are left with just 50 jobs for humans.”

Low argues the job-loss predictions rest on 'a fallacy': jobs are not fixed, and 'the number of jobs will increase' to 150, so B.

There are several reasons why AI is appealing to businesses.

“‘In many cases, they can outperform humans,’ says Pachidi. ‘Organisations are attracted to using algorithms because they want to make choices based on what they consider is “perfect information”, as well as to reduce costs and enhance productivity.’”

Pachidi explains firms are attracted to algorithms because they 'can outperform humans', want 'perfect information', and seek to 'reduce costs and enhance productivity', so A.

AI’s potential to transform people’s lives has parallels with major cultural shifts which occurred in previous eras.

“‘The promises of these new technologies are astounding. They deliver humankind the capacity to live in a way that nobody could have once imagined,’ he adds. ‘Just as the industrial revolution brought people past subsistence agriculture, and the corporate revolution enabled mass production,”

McGaughey compares AI to past shifts: 'Just as the industrial revolution brought people past subsistence agriculture ... a third revolution has been pronounced', so C.

It is important to be aware of the range of problems that AI causes.

“‘But these enhancements are not without consequences,’ says Pachidi. ‘If routine cognitive tasks are taken over by AI, how do professions develop their future experts?’ she asks.”

Pachidi warns 'these enhancements are not without consequences', asking how professions develop future experts if AI takes routine cognitive tasks, so A.

People are going to follow a less conventional career path than in the past.

“Economist Professor Hamish Low believes that the future of work will involve major transitions across the whole life course for everyone: ‘The traditional trajectory of full-time education followed by full-time work followed by a pensioned retirement is a thing of the past,’ says Low.”

Low says 'the traditional trajectory of full-time education followed by full-time work followed by a pensioned retirement is a thing of the past', so B.

Authorities should take measures to ensure that there will be adequately paid work for everyone

“McGaughey’s findings are a call to arms to leaders of organisations, governments and banks to pre-empt the coming changes with bold new policies that guarantee full employment, fair incomes and a thriving economic democracy.”

McGaughey calls on governments to 'pre-empt the coming changes with bold new policies that guarantee full employment, fair incomes', so C.