In recent years, there has been a lot written on the global “digital divide.” The phrase refers to the gap in the ability to access computers and the internet between wealthier people and poorer or otherwise disadvantaged citizens. Increasingly, the poor, rural, elderly, and handicapped portion of the population who lack computers or the internet are falling behind the wealthy, middle-class, and young Americans and other world citizens living in urban and suburban areas who have access. The problem is becoming more acute and more ordinary life activities, as well as jobs, require Internet connectivity and devices.
Late last month, the financial services company Mastercard’s charitable arm, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, announced that it plans to team up with non-profit organization Bayes Impact to create and test what the two organizations are calling an innovative and scalable digital lifelong learning program that will deliver career coaching opportunities to underserved workers. Bayes Impact’s initiative is something called “citizen led public services,” a principle under which citizens agree to respect key public service principles when they’re using innovation to solve problems they’ve identified in society. They’ll agree to use transparent governance, allowing the project’s impact to be measured, and guaranteeing that it remains open and accessible to all. In exchange, governments agree to help citizens gain access to the data they need and distribute the citizen-led public services across infrastructure and traditional public services to maximize its impact.
The partnership between Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and Bayes Impact will involve the use the latter’s digital coaching technology Bob AI, which uses artificial intelligence to deliver personalized advice to job-seekers drawing on accurate and relevant local labor market data. The Mastercard Center is funding this work as part of its global commitment to support future of work initiatives that provide resources for low-income and low-mobility workers.
“It’s critical that we recognize how the future of workers is evolving. While AI and automation could displace millions of workers, they also offer an opportunity to create tools that could empower workers with the support they need to navigate the changing labor market,” said Payal Dalal, Senior Vice President, Social Impact, International Markets, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. “That’s why this partnership with RSA and Bayes Impact is so important. Together, we are creating assets for low-income and low-mobility workers to succeed in the digital economy.”
For more information about the Future of Work, plan on attending the Future of Work Expo in Miami, Florida from June 22-25, 2021. For more information and to register, visit www.futureofworkexpo.com.
Edited by
Maurice Nagle
