#1. Death of the office may be exaggerated despite boom in remote working
Earlier this week, the technology firm Fujitsu announced it would halve its office space in Japan as it adapts to the “new normal” of the coronavirus pandemic. Under this new plan, employees will “begin to primarily work on a remote basis,” but they will have the option to choose whether they want to work from home or the office. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, companies such as Twitter and Facebook have previously taken similar measures. In contrast, companies such as Microsoft and Google have emphasised the benefits of working collectively in an office space. According to the Financial Times, one such benefit is that humans working together are more creative. While it is true that in the age of AI-driven technology many of our tasks can be substituted, those that cannot require human interaction, oftentimes in person. This will increasingly become a challenge if all employees work remotely.