Technology is changing the economy, technology is certainly replacing jobs, and technology can also be used to grow jobs. And it’s our responsibility to help small businesses and large businesses all around the world use technology to grow their businesses so that they can grow jobs.
Facebook Thinks Selling Ads Will Save Jobs
[caption id="attachment_142197" align="aligncenter" width="3006"] Facebook[/caption] The threat of machines taking jobs from fleshy humans is palpable. With artificial intelligence and machine learning starting to become a commonplace reality, the paradigm of gainful employment is shifting. Facebook wants to do its part by selling ads. Yes, really. In a chat with Bloomberg, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said the company wants to help create jobs by selling ads to small- and medium-sized businesses: “Technology is certainly replacing jobs. And technology can also be used to grow jobs. It's our responsibility to help small businesses and large businesses all around the world use technology to grow their businesses so that they can grow jobs.’' She went on to say that selling ads will help mom-and-pop stores everywhere expand, while noting that more Facebook ad customers are moving to mobile. “What we’re seeing is more adoption of the mobile platforms. There are 70 million small businesses that are using Facebook on a monthly basis... they’re investing in mobile because that’s where people are spending their time.” When prompted to discuss how all of this was helping economic and job growth, Sandberg said: “Our goal is to make sure businesses spend money and get a return so what matters for marketers is when they spend on marketing, it rings the cash register both online and off. We also see small businesses playing a very important role in the global economy. The majority of job creation around the world is actually small businesses, and even the most offline small business can use the power of technology.” After telling a story of how a small furniture manufacturing business in Germany advertised on Facebook and opened five additional locations(!), Sandberg quickly transitioned to how that translated into job growth and revenue both inside and outside of Germany. It’s a feel-good story of global expansion, and while small businesses often contribute to the overall job market in ways we rarely consider, that wasn’t the kicker. Asked for her thoughts on tech replacing jobs rather than adding sales and manufacturing positions through advertising, Sandberg had this to say: