We are in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution with the rapid development of digital technology. While we have created amazing innovations, the costs are already substantial.

Digital Today

To best examine the current state and future state of the digital transformation, we need to look to the technology industry. The technology industry’s largest expense is labor. As companies continue to innovate and work towards a profit, we can expect more automation of jobs everywhere. 

There is already a large displacement of jobs, such as truck drivers, by artificial intelligence (AI), and this is expected to bleed into other industries. Another trend in the technology industry is outsourcing. Job outsourcing has grown substantially, so as jobs become more automated, it could not only hurt our own country’s job market but also those around the globe.

The rapid adoption of cloud software marks our current stage in the industrial revolution while we likely work toward AI advancement. 

Future Challenges in Digital

AI specifically presents many potential challenges that will impact not just those who work in technology, but the everyday person. AI presents a plethora of ethical implications and creates an opportunity for digital attacks. These ethical considerations center on privacy, lack of transparency, bias and discrimination, and lack of governance and accountability. Each of these impacts everyone’s lives, but especially those with a career in communications. Depending on how AI develops, communicators may have more insight into people’s lives than ever, which can lead to questionable practices. Digital attacks also present challenges for communicators as employees. If the organization faces a substantial digital attack, it may be unable to recover. Communicators must be prepared to be as transparent as ever to address these potential issues.

Future Opportunities in Digital

Though many of these challenges seem daunting, the digital transformation presents a variety of opportunities. Innovations tend to make our lives easier and more enjoyable. Though initially displacing employees, it is likely technology itself and society will create new jobs that could be potentially more rewarding than previous jobs. Clearly, the industrial revolution shows an unprecedented field of communication. Communication jobs will substantially change in their methods, content, and scope in the near future.

Final Thoughts

The communication field should prepare for the future of the digital transformation. Staying in-tune with advancements will serve yourself and your organization well as it continues to advance to meet people’s needs and desires.