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Machines might not take your job. But they could make it worse
How robots and AI change the meaningfulness of work.
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In theory, machines can free up time for more interesting tasks; in practice, they seem to have had the opposite effect.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The Economist
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July 19 was a day for help-desk heroes and support superstars. A routine software update by CrowdStrike, a cyber security company, caused computer outages in offices, hospitals and airports worldwide.
Most white-collar workers looked disconsolately at their screens and realised just how useless they are if they cannot log in. People in information technology came to the rescue of helpless colleagues and stranded passengers. Their work that day was full of stress – but also full of meaning.

