AI and the Future of Work: Navigating the Changing Landscape
The advent of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022 has ignited discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) and its profound implications for the future of work. The UK government’s focus on AI as a national priority, coupled with the growing awareness and understanding of AI among Britons, has brought these concerns to the forefront. This article delves into the perspectives of tech experts on the impact of AI on jobs, the need for new skills, and the emerging roles and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field.
Concerns about AI and the Future of Work
Fears about job losses and job displacement due to AI’s automation capabilities are prevalent among workers. Tech experts acknowledge that AI will indeed eliminate or change some jobs, particularly those involving repetitive tasks and administrative functions. However, they emphasize the importance of adaptation and acquiring new skills to remain relevant in a technology-driven workforce.
Perspectives from Tech Experts
Pavel Shynkarenko, CEO of Solar Staff, believes that AI will indeed take jobs away from people, but the specific jobs and the timeline are uncertain. He foresees job losses primarily affecting entry and mid-level professionals, particularly in the IT sector, who may struggle to adapt and grow in their roles.
Cecily Motley, co-founder of Harriet, a HR AI platform, takes a more optimistic view, suggesting that AI will transform work for the better by automating time-consuming administrative tasks and freeing up workers to focus on higher-value projects that require human skills like creativity, relationship building, and resilience.
Hywel Carver, CEO and Co-Founder of Skiller Whale, acknowledges the understandable fears about job losses but emphasizes the need for a balanced perspective. He believes that while some jobs may be lost, a synergy between workers and AI can be achieved, allowing AI to complement rather than replace human work.
Khyati Sundaram, CEO of Applied, an ethical hiring expert, highlights the potential of AI to automate repetitive tasks and improve work-life balance, freeing up workers to focus on more meaningful and high-value tasks.
Prashant Mahajan, CEO and founder of Zeda.io, a product management platform, points to AI’s role as a critical differentiator, enabling data-driven decisions based on real-time data. He also mentions the use of AI-powered predictive modeling to analyze past data and predict future customer demands and behavior.
New Roles and Opportunities Created by AI
Tech experts identify several new roles and opportunities that could emerge as a result of AI’s increasing adoption.
Khyati Sundaram suggests roles such as AI trainers, operators, and auditors, as well as AI consultants and compliance managers, to ensure the effective and ethical use of AI in line with evolving legislation.
Adam Liska, co-founder and CEO of Glyphic.ai, believes that most jobs and sectors will be augmented by AI. He foresees the emergence of prompt engineer positions, where individuals collaborate with AI to personalize and automate large parts of coaching and content creation.
Hywel Carver emphasizes the need for human oversight as AI continues to develop and integrate across sectors. This necessity creates new roles and skill sets, including prompt engineers, AI leads, and heads of artificial intelligence.
Skills Development and Adaptability
Experts agree that soft skills and people skills will be crucial in the AI-driven future of work. Farley Thomas, CEO of Manageable, stresses the importance of relationship skills, emotional intelligence, and coaching skills. He believes that cognitive skills, while important, will be increasingly complemented by AI’s capabilities.
Hywel Carver advocates for skepticism, intuition for how AI works, and flexibility as valuable skills. He emphasizes the need for skepticism due to AI’s potential for mistakes, requiring human checks and balances. Intuition for how AI works is essential for understanding its strengths and limitations, while flexibility is crucial as roles evolve.
Cecily Motley highlights the increasing emphasis on human skills in the AI future, including relationship building, resilience, creativity, originality, and the ability to respond to complexity.
Optimizing CVs for AI Applicant Tracking Systems
Many companies use AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) to parse resumes and cover letters, making it important for job seekers to optimize their CVs for AI.
Adam Liska of Glyphic.ai suggests adapting experience and skills for specific companies and personalizing resumes to boost discoverability on the job market.
Pavel Shynkarenko of Solar Staff advises candidates to take a human-centric approach, focusing on their experience and skills rather than solely relying on keywords.
Khyati Sundaram of Applied emphasizes the importance of ethical employers ensuring that hiring decisions are made by humans, eliminating the risk of AI perpetuating biases.
Conclusion
The integration of AI into the workplace is an ongoing process that brings both challenges and opportunities. Tech experts believe that while some jobs may be lost or changed, new roles and opportunities will emerge. Adaptation, skill development, and embracing a human-centric approach will be key for individuals and organizations to thrive in the AI-driven future of work.