5 ms·

25% of CEOs’ Time Is Spent on Tasks Machines Could Do

47 points by riqbal 10y ago

gkoberger 10y ago
The title of the article refers to a single sentence: "We estimate that about 25% of CEOs’ time is currently spent on activities that machines could do, such as analyzing reports and data to inform decisions." It seems to me they're just describing inefficiencies that could be fixed, not automation. Hard to tell, though, because the source they link to doesn't mention this stat at all. Technology always makes things easier (it's a lot quicker to write an email than a letter, or to use Excel over a calculator), but I wouldn't necessarily consider that "tasks machines could do". Machines can't just go analyze data on their own, but they can make it more efficient. Automation in an assembly line might mean you can layoff 25% of your factory workers, or that there will be 25% less need for people with that skillset in the market. However you can't reduce your number of CEOs by 25% – there's one CEO, and they have an infinite amount of work to do. Of all the things this article mentions, quantifying the automation of a CEO (and using it as the title) seems like the least relevant metric to care about.
- ccvannorman 10y ago
  Clickbait headline linked to opinion piece about general automation with no content.
owebmaster 10y ago
I bet 100% in most cases (like a lot of other jobs).
- bottled_poe 10y ago
  Unlikely. A CEO's job is literally about being the face of the company. How exactly will a machine replace that? Perhaps in 100 years when we have human-level androids walking around.
  - owebmaster 10y ago
    Is it? Or is to make the best decision? I think a AI CEO could perform a lot better than most of these expensive showmen.
  - groks 10y ago
    We've already got virtual pop stars. Why not a virtual CEO? https://arstechnica.com/the-multiverse/2016/04/waving-glow-sticks-at-hologram-anime-pop-stars-our-night-with-hatsune-miku/ https://arstechnica.com/the-multiverse/2016/04/waving-glow-s... RIM had a par of co-CEOs. Why not buy one CEO from IBM, and hire another to play golf?
xiphias 10y ago
You can download the real 7MB pdf from the linked URL: http://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/digital-disruption/harnessing-automation-for-a-future-that-works http://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/digital-disruption/har...

47 points by riqbal 10y ago

The title of the article refers to a single sentence: "We estimate that about 25% of CEOs’ time is currently spent on activities that machines could do, such as analyzing reports and data to inform decisions." It seems to me they're just describing inefficiencies that could be fixed, not automation. Hard to tell, though, because the source they link to doesn't mention this stat at all. Technology always makes things easier (it's a lot quicker to write an email than a letter, or to use Excel over a calculator), but I wouldn't necessarily consider that "tasks machines could do". Machines can't just go analyze data on their own, but they can make it more efficient. Automation in an assembly line might mean you can layoff 25% of your factory workers, or that there will be 25% less need for people with that skillset in the market. However you can't reduce your number of CEOs by 25% – there's one CEO, and they have an infinite amount of work to do. Of all the things this article mentions, quantifying the automation of a CEO (and using it as the title) seems like the least relevant metric to care about.

ccvannorman 10y ago
Clickbait headline linked to opinion piece about general automation with no content.

owebmaster 10y ago

I bet 100% in most cases (like a lot of other jobs).

bottled_poe 10y ago
Unlikely. A CEO's job is literally about being the face of the company. How exactly will a machine replace that? Perhaps in 100 years when we have human-level androids walking around.
- owebmaster 10y ago
  Is it? Or is to make the best decision? I think a AI CEO could perform a lot better than most of these expensive showmen.
- groks 10y ago
  We've already got virtual pop stars. Why not a virtual CEO? https://arstechnica.com/the-multiverse/2016/04/waving-glow-sticks-at-hologram-anime-pop-stars-our-night-with-hatsune-miku/ https://arstechnica.com/the-multiverse/2016/04/waving-glow-s... RIM had a par of co-CEOs. Why not buy one CEO from IBM, and hire another to play golf?

xiphias 10y ago

You can download the real 7MB pdf from the linked URL: http://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/digital-disruption/harnessing-automation-for-a-future-that-works http://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/digital-disruption/har...