The business world is on the cusp of a great transformation. Digital technologies are changing the world, yet the most profound revolution in how business gets done is still to come. Digital assets are growing in value, while automation isn’t just empowering workers, but replacing them entirely. This trend can best be seen in companies that combine a small headcount with a huge market value. In such an environment, what is the place of the average person?

To shed some light on this new future world, John Furrier (@furrier) and Dave Vellante (@dvellante), cohosts of theCUBE, from the SiliconANGLE Media team, spoke to Emer Coleman, during the Hadoop Summit Dublin 2016 convention. Coleman is the founder of Disruption, Ltd., an associate at EY (Ernst & Young UK Ltd.), and chair of the Open Data Governance Board Ireland.

People as a product

The conversation started with a look at digital assets and personal data. What, Coleman asked, is the equitable distribution in such an economy? What are we looking at in terms of sustainable businesses in the future? She also pointed out the demand from people to get back some of the value of their data from these information-driven companies.

As the saying goes, if someone isn’t paying for a service, they’re the product. Coleman wondered if people will continue to build value for big companies without asking for anything in return beyond the service? She didn’t think so.

Will human labor become extinct?

We know, Coleman said, that robotics and software will eat jobs. She continued, saying that we’re coming to a point where large swathes of people no longer have work. Governments will have to deal with citizens who are no longer a part of this brave new world. There are some deep societal implications that need thinking through, she said.

Software and robotics are the future, Coleman said, but developers need to focus on the social and philosophical side of the discussion. We have to look at the downsides or we’ll be in a bad position, she stated.

Watch the full interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE and theCUBE’s coverage of Hadoop Summit 2016 – Dublin. And make sure to join in during theCUBE’s live coverage during the event by joining in on CrowdChat.

Photo by SiliconANGLE