Invited by Serita and Adrian at ENEI to keynote the ENEI Global Summit, which brought together leaders from around the world and from all sectors to discuss diversity, inclusion and the future of work.
Matthew GriffinFounder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
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Serita and Adrian asked Matthew to give the keynote at this year's ENEI Global Summit, where leaders from around the world and from every sector came together to discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workforce, and the future of work.
During the day, organisations as diverse as Anglo American, Lockheed Martin, the Atomic Energy Authority and London Fire Brigade gave state of the union addresses on the progress being made in their territories, the disparities that still exist and the challenges ahead.
"In Europe alone it is estimated that gender related pay will only reach parity in 2080, which is, ironically, a long time after many of the jobs in the spotlight today will have been automated."Matthew Griffin, United Kingdom, December 2020
Matthew set the context. D&I is now a top-table agenda for many boards, with more governments and investors demanding greater hiring and wage transparency than ever. Yet despite global pressure there is still a long way to go before today's disparities and inequalities are eradicated. In Europe alone, gender pay parity is estimated to arrive only in 2080, which, ironically, is long after many of the jobs in the spotlight today will have been automated by new AI and robotic technologies.
Against that backdrop of societal disruption, his keynote focused on why organisations need agile and adaptable workforces. He also looked at how emerging technologies, such as digital humans that over time will automate more cognitive work, will affect the human workforce and shape future D&I policies.
He closed on the thread that runs through the session: we live in a diverse world, and as the rate of disruption accelerates, companies need agile, adaptable and diverse workforces more than ever.
311 Intelligence
What this means for your leadership team
Pay gaps outlast today's jobs.
Gender pay parity in Europe is estimated to arrive in 2080. Many of the jobs in the spotlight today will have been automated long before then. Leaders who plan D&I only around current roles risk aiming at work that no longer exists.
Digital humans reshape the workforce.
In 311's data, digital humans are life-like computer-made people that can talk and show feelings. The first product appeared in 2016, wide use is set for 2035, and 311 rates the action as Explore. Over time they will automate more cognitive work, so D&I policy must cover that shift.
Agility and diversity go together.
We live in a diverse world, and the rate of disruption keeps rising. 311 rates the accelerating rate of change as Act now. Organisations that build agile, adaptable and diverse workforces are better placed to absorb it.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
Which of our roles will be automated before pay gaps close?
Does our D&I policy cover work done by digital humans?
How agile and diverse is our workforce for faster disruption?
The trends and technologies behind this session
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
It means diversity and inclusion can no longer be planned apart from the future of work. Boards face pressure on hiring and wage transparency. 311 rates Diversity and Inclusion as Act now. Yet gender pay parity in Europe is estimated at 2080, so progress must be measured against a workforce that will change a great deal first.
How do digital humans relate to diversity and inclusion?
Matthew said digital humans will automate more cognitive work over time. That will change who does which work and shape future D&I policies. 311 lists the technology at readiness level 8, with wide use set for 2035 and an action rating of Explore.
How does cognitive automation relate to this session?
Cognitive automation is the automation of office and thinking tasks. 311 notes it is cutting hiring for entry level roles exposed to it, and rates it Act now with wide use in 2026. This links directly to Matthew's point that many of today's spotlight jobs will be automated.
How can 311 brief our leadership team on this?
311 offers a private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. Sessions are held in person first.
Bring this to your leadership teamA private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. In person first, anywhere in the world.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s session and 311 data.
If Matthew gave this session today
A heavy AI user directs about 18 people's work.
311 Institute's Future of Work research finds a heavy AI user already directs the work of about 18 people for $180 a month. That shift raises fresh questions about how organisations build diverse, inclusive and adaptable workforces.
