Dive Brief:

• Sixty-seven percent of survey respondents said they're worried about the idea of an algorithm selecting and hiring job applicants, according to Pew Research Center. Conversely, 22% were enthusiastic about the prospect. Pew surveyed 4,135 U.S. adults for its "Automation in Everyday Life" study.
• Even more of the respondents (72%) were concerned about a future where robots and computers do jobs humans used to do, while 33% of those polled weren't worried.
• According to Pew, respondents who were hesitant about using technology said their concerns came from not trusting machines to make decisions and their appreciation of human expertise and capabilities.

Dive Insight:

While people might be uneasy about automation doing what humans used to do — especially their jobs or hiring for those jobs — a new report from Gartner suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) will create more opportunities for humans overall.

However, some industries, like retail, may be hit particularly hard. The industry stands to lose about 7.5 million jobs in the upcoming years. Many retail jobs require repetitive motion, which automation is designed to do.

Retailers like Boxed.com are working to maintain job levels and still take advantage of the technology. The company automated its fulfillment center while training workers for the new jobs the technology will likely usher in. Employers who are willing to invest in preparing workers for new jobs through training or apprenticeships may be in the best position to take advantage of automation's innovative and cost-cutting capabilities.