Algorithmic CEO

As software and AI increasingly replace humans in more and more jobs, how far is it before the CEO of a company too is replaced by algorithms? Just two years back, Frank Pasquale wrote that “automation of the top management functions at firms like Uber and AirBnB would be “trivially easy.”

Nicholas Carr wonders whether with the resignation (ouster?) of Uber CEO, Travis Kalanick, Uber’s shareholders now have that opportunity:
“Uber and its investors have a perfect opportunity to disrupt the executive suite, and indeed the entire history of management, by using software to run the company.”

But first, why is Uber such a good candidate for such an idea? Says Carr:
“A fundamentally numerical company, constituted mainly of software, Uber is the perfect test bed for the robot CEO. And since its staff includes exceptionally talented programmers, it already has the skill needed to gin up the algorithms necessary to do the work Kalanick and his lieutenants did.”

But the CEO is decided by the board; and the board is made of humans, so surely they wouldn’t allow a robot/software to take over, would they? Aha, but if you’re a listed company, the shareholders may well feel what Carr says:
“If there were ever a job to be automated, it’s that of the underperforming, overpaid modern CEO.”

This may just be a futuristic idea for now, but for how long? As Alibaba CEO Jack Ma said:
“In thirty years, a robot will likely be on the cover of Time Magazine as the best CEO.”

Comments

  1. Ramiah KumarJune 23, 2017 at 1:26 PM

    I like it! Actually I look forward to it. Reason: I endorse your quote: "“If there were ever a job to be automated, it’s that of the underperforming, overpaid modern CEO.”

    In my work experience, I came to the conclusion that as engineers, most of my peers were into application of our knowledge and experience and less into politics of ever so many things. As I rose in the organization, I realized that apart from the job function, the top level has no option but be part of politics, preferential maneuvers, favoritism, deviating from straight forwardness for ever so many reasons - some not amounting to corruption and some others corruption of some kind. Thus, I would welcome robots to be CEO's who can do the task without such dislikable human traits. But then, like the Bible believers say, "God made man in his own image", robots savvy people tell us, "man makes robots in his/her own image" which implies that programing pushes the humanized ways - so our prides, prejudices and power-politics may all be part of robots! Not sure if the robots will also carry sexuality and thus another baggage of mankind to itself! Hope not.

    In the end, it may all be the same - life will forever be a mixture of good and bad. Robots and super-science advancements have no option but to abide by the law of wisdom of the ancients. Else, the silly desire of some ancients, namely there could be an elixir that will get us out of all difficulties and make this place a heaven, could bear truth. No way. Cest la vie.

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