The Reality Check
In the wake of modern advancements, every firm is trying to employ new tactics to make their business more efficient and productive, which often comes at the cost of human jobs. For a long time, having a new tech gadget such as a phone or a laptop was regarded as a status symbol, but now, these tools are vital assets. AI is primed to follow suit, though only for a fraction of the population. A case in point is a law firm in my city which recently bought a new AI-powered system to help review documents. Previously, there was a manual step where humans needed to finish reviewing the documents as the AI wasn't very dependable. With the system in place, positive feedbacks were given in less than 6 hours. In an astonishing development, the firm head estimates not only half of his employees would lose their jobs but that an astonishing sum of 90% of the human team's errors had also been fixed due to the AI. It's certainly not an outlier of a situation, either. Giant machines have replaced human labour in the manufacturing and healthcare industries. But herein lies the understatement: AI has the potential to make as many as 85 million people unsuccessfully try to find jobs in a world of shortage in six short years. Striking. To add fuel to the already blazing fire, somehow, 97 million new jobs would swiftly spring into existence. Mindblowing. This is the massive paradox I personally view the world to be.
Your Job Is Never Safe
Every profession does seem to come with its own risks. For instance, after working closely with several tech startups, I am pretty confident in saying that certain positions are particularly under threat. You know that menial, almost brainless work that makes you want to scream? Well, guess what? AI loves those boring tasks. Yes, I'm talking about repetitive data entry, simple bookkeeping, and document sorting. I really hate to burst your bubble, but those are the kinds of tasks that machines already love and will continue to love in the future. What is even more astonishing is that the jobs that require the so-called human touch are actually in greater demand now. Here is a great example: Take my good friend Mike, a financial advisor. Sure, he will always have a market of clients, and yes, machines will always do calculations faster than him, but what about when the market goes crazy and his clients need his services the most? That is the reality. AI will forever lack that specific intuition, emotional element, and the ability to soothe a person with tea.
Worries Over Technology Advancements
Let's talk about something that has kept me awake at night. The speed at which technology is changing is beyond insane. Do you recall how long it took for computers to be widely used in offices? Well, AI goes way faster than that. Instead of decades, we are looking at years or possibly months. In my line of work, the shifts have been immediate. Chatbots are now responsible for dealing with customer requests, algorithms are analyzing data, and even machine learning systems are making predictions that a few analysts would have taken weeks to resolve. And this is a big issue, and I emphasize this; they're not letting everyone go. This technology is changing how we work. I believe the next 3 to 5 years will be very important. That is when we will begin to see AI take on more complicated issues. Medical diagnosis? Legal work? Financial planning? Everything is possible and ready to be conquered. But before you get ready to pack your desk, let me assure you there is a way to ensure you remain ahead.
Preparing for Change
You must adjust, and to put it bluntly, "You must blend in, or you will die." There is some good news, however. Based on my own career pivots, for which there have been quite a few, I have come up with what I call a survival toolkit for the AI age, and trust me, it's not as scary as it seems. The first step in my plan is to get you acclimated to technology. No, I am not suggesting you start fiddling with code, but it is necessary for you to have a fundamental understanding of how AI tools operate within your field. Think about it like learning how to drive a car. You do not need to know the complicated details of how an engine works or how to assemble one, but you better understand how to operate a vehicle. Let me tell you what I learned the hard way; skills that AI can't duplicate should be your primary focus. What do you think those skills are? Quite simply, they are traits embedded in your being. Your passion, your empathy, and the intricate meshing of emotions and reasoning.
The Human Edge: Your Secret Weapon
In my time collaborating with AI, I've learned to value the capabilities of a human even more. For instance, the imaginative capability we possess to connect unrelated concepts together, understand context, and apply them in a way that no AI can match is extraordinary. I remember this one project where we attempted to automate our entire work process. We used all kinds of advanced AI technology. What we found out may be a shock to you. When everything went wrong, people preferred to converse with a real human. They needed an empathetic, representative person who understood their issues and could help them out in a delicate and ingenious manner.
An Action Plan: Making It Work
I appreciate theory, but let's get practical now. Here is what you should do based on my experience, which, by the way, is filled with mistakes. First off, evaluate your current role. Which parts can you delegate to a machine? Trust me on this one. You need to be honest. Now, ask yourself how you can reshape your role so that only the tasks that need a human touch are performed. Honestly, I did this exercise last year, and it was a game-changer. This step has helped immensely. Now, for the next step, hire a business analyst. And this step is important. Start working on what we call a hybrid skillset. Learning how to use AI tools is aimed at accomplishing this goal. However, it is not the only applicable approach. It is essential to understand human skills or traits that go along with AI. For me, it has been strategic thinking and creative problem-solving.
The Bottom Line
Here's my two cents: AI won't replace you and your work. Rather, it will transform what you do, which isn't necessarily bad. AI has its downfalls, but I have witnessed how it lifts the burden of tedious tasks off our shoulders so that we may devote ourselves to more productive and purposeful activities. What makes me hopeful is that every major technological revolution in history has helped generate more employment opportunities than it has eliminated. While some jobs will vanish, many others will appear. The challenge is learning to embrace change, endlessly find new solutions, and focus on skills that appeal to the human touch. I would love for you to share whatever changes are imminent or happening now in the industry. How are you setting yourself up for these changes? At the end of the day, it is all about wrestling with a world dominated by reality synthetic intelligence and trying to figure out the best ways to prosper.
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