Most of us would say robots will never replace the human element. However, the lines will inevitably become thinner between what a human can do, and what robots can do better. Apart from the obvious benefits of yielding PM responsibilities to a robot, the human element could actually be a liability with factors such as prejudice, corruption, self interest, varying skill levels, and a severely limited memory compared to a massive database of lessons learned etc. at the robots disposal, instantly. I may be asking the wrong people (PM's) how they would feel about a robot doing their job better, but perhaps there is a different role for us in the future. Maintaining the robot perhaps, which might be the ultimate irony. Saving Changes...
John HenryProject Manager| Catholic Health InitiativesColo, Ia, United States
Oct 23, 2017 5:00 AM
Replying to Peter Ambrosy
...
Sante, a very interesting question.
Technology will certainly evolve over the next years and decades and their might be a point in time where a robot may have all the possible technical features described above.
But the emotional intelligence, how to reflect on people, talk and work with people...I believe a robot will be still limited compared to a human being. Projects without emotions, conflicts, difficult decision making....how boring and sad will be such an environment...
AI would work if you were reworking the same project and expectig the same results. But then you can just leave it alone if that is the case. A PM, can reason with those resistant to change, a PM can negotiate with high level executives, and can look at a creative solution. A PM will bring all their experience to bear, even when the match is not exact, it will be close enough to add value. any AI algorithm we use today, will be great for tracking projects, analyzing issues and identifying milestones, and failure points, after they have occurred. But to accomplish what a project team does, to create a new situation, a new solution, requires problem identification and solving through collaborative process, and in an iterative manner, These are two things that I do not believe will be accomplished by AI in the foreseeable future. I think, Project management, business analysis and subject matter experts are safe for the present. Saving Changes...
Helen McCulleyAssociate Director Project Management| Covis PharmaZug, Switzerland
The absolute key to project management is communication.
If AI advances to the stage where it can mimic the nuances of human communication and sufficient data has been inputted to enable sufficient learning from previous projects etc then yes I think this could happen.
However, I may be naive but I think we are a very long way from that point.
It might be a case of an "enhancement" to the brain, just like robotic limbs or mechanical organs are enhancement to the human body. A chip that can process things we can never do, implanted to augment the brain. Over time, even though chips become smaller, and the technology and features become greater, reliance on these enhancements takes away from human reliance, making us less human, and more artificially intelligent. I can see a time when all organs are replaced, limbs, joints, even muscles, and the brain slowly augmented over time until it relies more on AI than organic brain function. One night we go to bed as human project managers, and one day we wake up as AI project managers. There is no doubt in my mind this will occur one day. In the meantime, other means of augmenting our brain to assist in project management such as statistical software, project scheduling program, PMIS, tracking, lessons learned databases, templates etc. will continue outside the brain and body...for now! Saving Changes...
JOONMIN SUHProject Engineering Manager| Samsung Construction & TradingSeongnam, Gyeonggi, South Korea
Hi Sante, it is very interesting question. I think PM can use AI as one of a good tool to his/her project. Some one have to set up one seamless logic considering the "Compexity" within the project. For me only PM can integrate the system behavior, human behavior and the uncertainty at work in the organization or its environment. Saving Changes...
