Most everyone agrees that advancements in the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and the like will change the world. What people may not agree on is to what degree it should be regulated and what constitutes ethical practices. But these are necessary conversations in order to prepare for such an unknown future, said Shannon Vallor, William J. Rewak, S.J. professor of philosophy at Santa Clara University.

“Readiness means starting now to think about the possibilities and putting systems in place that can respond to surprises,” she said. Vallor was interviewed by Dave Vellante (@dvellante) and John Furrier (@furrier), hosts of theCUBE*, from the SiliconANGLE Media team, during the IBM World of Watson event in Las Vegas, NV.

The future of employment

Besides impacting every profession, these advancements will change the field of employment entirely, according to Vallor. As many are struggling in the economy today, people are worried what will happen when machines start replacing even white-collar workers.

While the list of things humans can do that computers can’t is indeed growing smaller, artificial general intelligence is still a ways off, and there are certain areas that will be in demand in the future. “Creativity, inter-disciplinarity, social intelligence and moral wisdom will be the most important skills going forward,” said Vallor.

Education reform

But our education system is out of alignment with that future, Vallor pointed out.

“It requires a technical education that we don’t have the capacity provide. … The middle sector is the most impacted, and these new jobs involve a level of skill that we‘re not prepared to meet yet,” said Vallor.

However, only five years ago you’d have a tough time holding a conversation about ethics in Silicon Valley. That’s changed now, with companies realizing they have to build trust, she added. Education could make these shifts too, but it needs to soon.

As for Watson, Vallor said, “What I appreciate about Watson is that it is a technology that emphasizes how it amplifies us rather than replaces us. It helps us think better, do better, think more, do more.”

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE and theCUBE’s coverage of IBM World of Watson 2016.

*Disclosure: IBM and other companies sponsor some IBM World of Watson segments on SiliconANGLE Media’s theCUBE. Neither IBM nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.

Photo by SiliconANGLE