Quartz launches future of work obsession

Business news site Quartz is now covering the future of work as one of its “obsessions,” or beats.

Editor in chief Kevin Delaney writes, “To get a sense of how we’ll approach the future of work, you can look to some of our distinctive coverage on the issue to date. There’s the impact of AI and automation: Quartz reporter Dave Gershgorn covered investor Kai-Fu Lee’s prediction that machines will in 10 years replace 50% of the jobs done by humans today, and I spoke with Bill Gates about his related proposal for a robot tax. Sarah Kessler wrote an optimist’s take on what the doomsayers call the ‘automation apocalypse.’ She profiled engravers, who have the most automated job in America according to government statistics, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

“In a different look at how work is changing, Sarah was also the first to write about how IBM is calling some remote workers back to the office. Then there’s the rise of part-time work and the redefinition, by ride-sharing startups and other companies, of what it means to be an employee. Our colleague Alison Griswold has been exploring what their arrangements with workers say about the future of jobs, and society’s support for those employed in the ‘gig’ economy.

“Looking ahead, you’ll see more coverage from Quartz as we try, along with our readers, to answer the question: What is the future of work for humans when machines are taking on more of it and companies and workers are rethinking their relationships to each other?”

Read more here.