Automation, algorithms and the need to adapt: How AI is reshaping the world of work

Right now, there's a lot of talk globally about Artificial Intelligence. On Friday 8 December, member states and the European Parliament reached a preliminary deal on the AI Act, the world's first attempt to regulate the fast-evolving technology in a comprehensive, ethics-based manner.

The EU's move to legislate AI tech comes at a time of rapid change in the workplace. In a recent report, around 75% of the firms questioned said they planned to adopt AI-powered systems by 2027. 

Dutch supermarket Picnic is attempting to revolutionise the online grocery sector. Highly automated centres, like Picnic's in Utrecht, are full of lots of AI tech.

The firm says that enables it to deliver food fresher, faster and cheaper - a clear edge in a highly competitive industry.

In addition, Picnic says its adoption of AI has created lots of skilled new jobs, for instance in fields like data analysis, while removing much of the hard graft done by workers in its distribution and fulfilment hubs. 

"AI creates an opportunity for many, many people that there are new jobs that don't exist currently, that they can do in the future," said Daniel Gebler, Picnic's Chief Technical Officer. "This is about creative work, but also technology takes over the repetitive work and the hard work."

Picnic says its tech and business model allows it to be more sustainable. The supermarket already delivers for free in fully electric vehicles. However data-driven analysis to cut down on food and packaging waste is also central to its operation.

"A service like Picnic can operate in a very sustainable way, but this goes a step further where we are not only with good forecasting, making our service, our operations sustainable, but also our suppliers," Daniel Gebler added.

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