We have all heard or read it at least once - AI (Artificial Intelligence) will replace the need for people in in all manner of roles. Although it is totally understandable that people may feel this way, given the recent societal awakening to AI (Large Language Models and Generative AI), causing us to contemplate the future with both excitement and apprehension. But the truth of the matter is that people are adaptable and have survived many technological shifts in the past. has sparked both excitement and apprehension. While some fear that AI will render many jobs obsolete, it is important to dig a little deeper and test the theory, In fact, there are compelling reasons why AI is unlikely to take away your jobs.
We can look back at history and observe how many technological advances impacted the job market. Most often, it spawned far more jobs than where made redundant, and those that were made redundant where indeed able to leverage their skills to work within the new innovated environment. Some examples of this could be seen in the rapid uptake of "knocker upper" roles during the industrial revolution and the transition of coachmen to drivers and conductors as the adoption of the Internal Combustion Engine replaces horse and carriage. Here are seven key points why AI will NOT take your job!:
1. Complementing Human Skills, Not Replacing Them
AI excels at performing specific tasks with speed and accuracy, but it lacks the nuanced thinking, emotional intelligence, and creativity that humans possess. Jobs that require empathy, complex problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity are unlikely to be fully automated. Instead, AI will serve as a tool that enhances human capabilities, allowing us to focus on higher-order tasks. In our historic example above, coachmen who adapted became car, taxi or bus drivers.
How can you take advantage of this to progress my career?
Start by thinking of ways that AI can help you in your current role? There are many widely available tools, such as Chat GPT, Bing, etc., which can help you start testing out various ideas. It goes without saying that you should take extreme caution and never use these tools with sensitive company or customer data for your own testing purposes and always make sure that you comply with the policies of your own company.
2. Demand for New Skillsets
As AI and automation technologies continue to evolve, there will be an increased demand for individuals who can develop, maintain, and improve these systems. This translates into a growing need for professionals in fields like AI engineering, data science, machine learning, and AI ethics. In essence, AI will create new job opportunities that cater to its development and application. Another example from history is the introduction of traffic lights at intersections. Although it admittedly reduced the need for a human to fulfill that function, the advent of traffic lights and their implementation spawned an entire new industry that needed new skills. The same is and will be true as we enter the AI revaluation.
How can you take advantage of this to progress my career?
The opportunities here are vast. Programmers fear their jobs will be at risk, but those who are willing to pivot to AI disciplines are far more optimistic and so should they be. It is of course entirely possible that the adoption and value curves of the supporting technologies are far more short-lived than those in traditional IT or programming roles, so some thought has to go into the direction you would want to learn a new skill or skills. For those less IT literate, a basic understanding of AI and Machine Learning is a crucial first step.
3. Human-AI Collaboration
A great majority of job roles in the future will involve the use of AI systems is some way. Just as modern professionals use tools like spreadsheets and software to enhance productivity, AI will be integrated into workflows to augment decision-making, analyze data, and provide insights. This collaborative approach will reshape industries, generating innovative roles that harness AI's capabilities.
How can you take advantage of this to progress my career?
Nothing new here, just be the best you can at your job, embrace the technological changes as they come down the road and make sure that you stay abreast of developments in your industry. Ask yourself, how many successfully accountants today refuse to work on a computer and only use paper ledgers? The answer is, probably not a lot! For the rest however, there are still accountants and they are very happily employed and far more productive, than had they refused to adopt modern technology,
4. Complex Tasks Require Human Judgment
While AI can excel in specific tasks, complex decision-making often involves ethical, moral, and contextual considerations that are beyond AI's capabilities. Jobs that involve intricate judgment calls, negotiation, leadership, and understanding complex human emotions will remain firmly within the human domain. If you are in one of these roles, or if your job has a large portion of it based on these aspects, the chances of AI impacting your role negatively is still some time out in the furniture.
How can you take advantage of this to progress my career?
If you are in one of these roles, or if your job has a large portion of it based on these aspects, the chances of AI impacting your role negatively is still some time out in the furniture. Even so, when the times comes, be prepared, understand how AI can be used to help, rather than hinder your role.
5. AI Needs Human Oversight
AI algorithms and models require constant supervision and fine-tuning to ensure accuracy and ethical use. Human experts are indispensable in identifying biases, rectifying errors, and ensuring AI systems align with human values. As AI technologies become more pervasive, the demand for professionals who can oversee, interpret, and improve these systems will only grow.
How can you take advantage of this to progress my career?
This one is more exclusive to those in the Data Science or programing arena's, but it is likely that the barrier to entry may decrease as the demand for these roles increase and the mindset of AI needing humans for oversight becomes more commonplace.
6. Creative Professions and Unpredictable Contexts
Even with the advent and proliferation of Generative AI, creativity is still a uniquely human trait that allows us to generate new ideas, art, music, and innovative solutions. While AI can assist in creative endeavors, the unpredictable and nuanced aspects of artistic expression, design, and innovative problem-solving remain beyond the realm of AI's capabilities.
How can you take advantage of this to progress my career?
Learn about generative AI and how to use prompts that will help you generate the best outputs from a given AI model or framework.
7. Societal and Ethical Considerations
The integration of AI into society raises complex ethical questions and challenges. Decisions involving AI in fields like healthcare, law, finance, and education require a deep understanding of both technology and the human context. Experts who can navigate these multifaceted landscapes will be invaluable in guiding responsible AI adoption.
The Collaborative Future
Rather than viewing AI as a threat, it's more accurate to see it as a transformative tool that can revolutionize industries and job roles. The rise of AI heralds a collaborative future where human ingenuity and expertise work hand in hand with AI's capabilities. As AI takes on repetitive and mundane tasks, it frees up human talent to focus on innovation, creativity, empathy, and the uniquely human qualities that make us irreplaceable.
In conclusion, the apprehension surrounding AI's potential to take jobs is often driven by a narrow perspective of its capabilities. AI's evolution will indeed reshape the job landscape, but the key lies in understanding that this transformation is not an all-or-nothing scenario. Instead of fearing job loss, we should be prepared to adapt, upskill, and embrace the new opportunities that AI will bring. By focusing on collaboration, new skill acquisition, and the integration of AI into our workflows, we can build a future where AI empowers us to achieve greater heights, rather than replacing us.
The dawn of AI is not the twilight of human work; it's a new chapter that we can co-write with the help of our technological partners.
Have a look at this interesting article that covers 5 Novel Jobs Spawned by the AI Revolution [And what you can do to prepare for the inevitable]
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