Predictions for the Future of Work

7 Questions

What did Elon Musk predict about the future of work?

Artificial intelligence will lead to a future where no one has to work

Why did some British companies experiment with a four-day working week after the COVID-19 pandemic?

Because it aligned with predictions and was popular

What is the opinion of University of Cambridge professor Brendan Burchell regarding predictions for the future of work?

He is skeptical and notes historical challenges in reducing working time

According to Business editor Andrew Palmer from The Economist, what is the impact of AI on jobs?

AI may replace some jobs while new ones will also emerge

What does the phrase 'take it with a pinch of salt' mean?

Doubting the accuracy of something

What does the term 'dystopian' refer to?

Imagining a nightmarish future

Match the job with the correct description.

Builder = Bricks & beams, building dreams. Carpenter = Wood whispers, creations rise. Plumber = Pipes & leaks, water seeks. Electrician = Wires & sparks, power embarks.

Study Notes

Predictions for the future of work have been made throughout history, including ideas like a 'smell-o-vision' TV and a miracle pill that cures all diseases from the 1930s.
Elon Musk predicted that artificial intelligence will lead to a future where no one has to work, but making accurate predictions about the future is challenging.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many were forced to work from home, aligning with predictions that everyone will eventually work remotely.
Some British companies experimented with a four-day working week after COVID, with 92% of them planning to continue this shorter work week due to its popularity.
University of Cambridge professor Brendan Burchell is skeptical about predictions for the future of work, noting that historically, dramatic reductions in working time have not materialized.
Business editor Andrew Palmer from The Economist believes that while AI may replace some jobs, new jobs will also emerge, but timing and coordination present challenges.
Vocabulary learned includes "take it with a pinch of salt" (doubt accuracy), "track record" (past achievements or failures), "come to pass" (happen), "dystopian" (imagining a nightmarish future), "get rid of something" (remove unwanted thing), and "crop up" (appear unexpectedly).