The Future of the Professions by Richard Susskind
The Future of the Professions by Richard Susskind is a forward-looking examination of how technology will reshape the role of professionals in society. From lawyers to doctors and teachers, the book challenges the traditional “Grand Bargain” of trusted expertise, urging us to rethink how knowledge is shared and delivered in a digital age. It’s a provocative guide to a world where machines and humans collaborate to deliver expertise.
Who May Benefit from the Book
- Professionals facing disruption in law, medicine, education, and consulting
- Students and academics studying future-of-work trends
- Tech entrepreneurs exploring digital knowledge platforms
- Policy makers shaping workforce and education policy
- Business leaders planning for long-term strategy and automation
Top 3 Key Insights
- The traditional model of professions is crumbling under economic, technological, and societal pressures.
- Technology is not just assisting experts—it’s transforming the very definition of expertise.
- Across industries, predictable patterns of change reveal a shift toward standardization, automation, and self-service platforms.
4 More Lessons and Takeaways
- Knowledge is becoming democratized. Digital tools now allow users to bypass experts and access knowledge directly and affordably.
- Professional work is being decomposed. Complex tasks are split into smaller parts—some done by machines, some by new roles like para-professionals.
- Professions must evolve or risk extinction. Resistance to change stems from outdated assumptions and misplaced fears about automation.
- Machines will enhance, not erase, human roles. Collaboration between technology and human skills like empathy and creativity will define future success.
The Book in 1 Sentence
Technology is transforming professional expertise from a closed, human-only service into an open, machine-assisted system that prioritizes access and efficiency.
The Book Summary in 1 Minute
The Future of the Professions argues that society’s long-standing trust in professions—law, medicine, education, and others—is breaking down. Richard Susskind explains that this trust, once earned by providing reliable, human-led services, now faces challenges from rapid technological growth. Machines can now perform expert-level tasks—from diagnosing illnesses to resolving legal disputes—more efficiently and at scale. The professions are becoming less about human judgment and more about accessible systems and platforms. The book outlines key shifts: routinization, disintermediation, and the rise of para-professionals. Rather than resisting change, the professions must adapt and evolve into a new partnership between humans and machines.
The Book Summary in 7 Minutes
The book opens by examining the long-held “Grand Bargain”—a social contract where professionals are trusted for their judgment, expertise, and ethics. In return, society grants them exclusivity, high status, and autonomy. But this contract is breaking down.
The Grand Bargain is Failing
Professions are no longer delivering on their promise. Services are often too expensive, slow, or opaque. Many people lack access to quality expertise. The authors argue this system is flawed on multiple fronts—economically, morally, and practically. Professional institutions discourage transparency, resist innovation, and limit public involvement in solving problems.
Technology as a Game Changer
The authors argue that information technology is more than a tool—it is a disruptive force. Machines can now carry out tasks traditionally done by professionals. For instance:
| Task | Traditional Provider | Tech Disruptor |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Advice | Lawyers | Online legal platforms |
| Tax Filing | Accountants | Tax software |
| Medical Information | Doctors | Health websites/apps |
| Conflict Resolution | Judges/Courts | Online dispute systems |
| Education | Professors | MOOCs and online classes |
Patterns Across All Professions
Despite differences in fields, the book finds clear trends shaping the future of work:
- Routinization: Complex tasks get broken into simpler, repeatable steps.
- Disintermediation: People access expert knowledge directly through platforms.
- New Roles: Emerging jobs like data scientists, moderators, and system designers support automated systems.
- More-for-Less: Clients want higher quality at lower costs, forcing efficiency and innovation.
From Print to Digital: A Knowledge Shift
Historically, how we store and share knowledge determines how societies grow. Oral cultures gave way to print. Print gave rise to professions. Now, the internet and smart machines are erasing boundaries. Knowledge is being externalized—stored in systems instead of in people’s minds.
The four driving forces behind this digital shift are:
- Exponential Growth – IT systems grow faster and cheaper.
- Capable Machines – Machines now handle tasks with human-level skill.
- Pervasive Devices – Smartphones and wearables are everywhere.
- Connected Humans – Billions of people are linked online, exchanging knowledge.
Knowledge as a Public Good
The book redefines knowledge as a non-rivalrous, non-excludable resource. This means:
- If one person uses knowledge, it doesn’t reduce its value to others.
- Once published online, it’s hard to stop others from accessing it.
This shift makes old models of “selling expertise” outdated. Instead, knowledge becomes accessible, on-demand, and often free.
Facing Resistance and Fears
The professions are slow to change. Why?
- They fear loss of prestige and control.
- They worry about replacing personal interaction with machines.
- They confuse their roles with their purpose—delivering expertise.
- They often hold new systems to higher standards than current flawed ones.
But Susskind urges open-mindedness. Technology should serve society’s needs, not protect outdated systems.
Humans and Machines Together
Contrary to fears, machines won’t replace all human professionals. Instead, they’ll augment them. The authors outline several future roles for humans:
| Role | Description |
|---|---|
| Craftspeople | Solving unique, complex problems manually |
| Assistants | Supporting experts with logistical tasks |
| Empathizers | Offering emotional insight and support |
| Knowledge Engineers | Structuring human knowledge into digital systems |
| System Providers | Building and maintaining platforms |
| Designers | Crafting user-friendly, ethical digital interfaces |
This future is not about humans versus machines. It’s about smart partnerships.
About the Author
Richard Susskind is a British author, speaker, and legal scholar. He specializes in the future of professional services and technology’s impact on law. With a PhD in law and computer science from Oxford, he has advised governments, courts, and major firms on digital transformation. Known for books like Tomorrow’s Lawyers, Susskind is a pioneer in legal tech and professional innovation.
Daniel Susskind, co-author and Richard’s son, is an economist and former policy advisor for the UK government. He holds a doctorate in economics from Oxford and has lectured at King’s College London. Daniel focuses on technology’s effect on labor markets, inequality, and the future of work. Together, the father-son duo brings deep academic and practical insight to this field.
How to Get the Best of the Book
Read the book slowly and reflectively. Pause at each chapter to compare its ideas with your profession. Discuss it with peers or students. Apply the concepts to your own field’s future planning.
Conclusion
The Future of the Professions is a bold and important call to rethink how society delivers expertise. It challenges professionals to evolve, not resist. By embracing technology and reimagining roles, we can create a future where knowledge is fairer, cheaper, and more human.