Cruises sold by Robot’s Really???

At the time of writing I am currently taking a flight from London to Milan where 312 of you (our customers) will descend upon us in Lake Garda for a week post cruise stay (Watch out for My Lake Garda, Venice Blog in 2 weeks)

Whenever I go away I catch up on reading, well listening actually with an audible book.

One topic I cant get enough of and generally fascinates me, is AI artificial intelligence.

I am currently listening to a book called “beware of The Robots by Martin Ford”. It talks about the past century and discusses some important questions about employment as technology advances.

Whether your en employer or employee I trust this is a matter for discussion because the truth of it is it effects each and every one of us.

At the airport I scanned my phone on the Robotic Machine and it opened using its face recognition software.

I used another baggage machine to check in my own luggage and put my own label on.

In all honesty there were very few staff there, employed by the low cost airlines.

Those who were there seemed uninterested and if i’m honest surplus to requirements the only reason they were there is so the brand could maintain some human interaction.

How many other service jobs like this are becoming a thing of the past. Look at toll booths all over the world now opening and closing barriers completely automated.

In this country alone our employment figures are being truly tested by improving technologies. A computer never tiers, never complains or requires motivating or a pay rise. You will  never offend a robot or have a law suit filed against an employer.

This got me thinking is your job safe come to think of it… is mine?

For me the answer lies in your industry sector.

If you are starting out as a researcher Lawyer, car manufacturer, taxi driver, bus train driver, car machanic , warehouse worker, pharmacist, bomb disposal expert doctor and many more professions,  then my honest view is that your industry has a shelf life of around 25 years.

This may seem like a rash statement but let’s look at the evidence. In the next 25 years the speed and cost of 3d printing, robotic computing and manufacturing will significantly reduce. This means your job will be more efficient done by a Robot.

If Tesler can produce 400 cars per month made exclusively with a Robot then is it completely inconceivable that a car mechanic will not be required when cars are just electronic Roberts that wont even need you to drive it.

Is my job safe?

The honest answer is for now yes.

I work in a customer focused sales role selling you cruises.

The reason people book with me is for expert advise, personality and passion for holidays and people like buying from informative people.

When will my job be At Risk?

When computer technologies and the infrastructure is good enough that voice recognition search engines can tell you everything you need to know and people rely on the advice so intuitively that they no longer require that human connection or reassurance.

We have seen with Siri on I phone, Bixby on Samsung and Alexa on Amazon that search engine voice recognition software is becoming so powerful that in the next 3 years you will be having dinner with friends and you can say Alexa tell me about Celebrity Equinox. Google will then tell you all about the ship. You will say how much is the 15th June sailing for 2 adults in a balcony.

Ok google book it. You card will be synced to your phone so knowing Google I would imagine you wouldn’t even have to touch a device to book your cruise. Your holiday will be booked before desert.

Why is my job good for 15-20 years?

My estimation is that the cruising industry by that time will have an average age group of 45-65 years of age. That means those guests are aged 25- 40 years old now. This is the exact age group of people that are not nervous about technology. In fact our lives are completely obsessed by it. This will be a suitable time line when the technology is strong enough, the pace is fast enough and the confidence is there to book every part of your trip without needing me at all.

Sad really.

I better make hay whilst the sun shines, ay?

Love to hear your thoughts on this one and if you are happier for now to book with an empathetic human being just give me a call.