The changes and repercussions of artificial intelligence (AI) in the creation and loss of certain job positions generates fear and is often misunderstood. There’s a common belief that AI can create irreversible repercussions within a company such as the loss of thousands of jobs. This is something that we don’t want to promote especially at the start of a hectic, uncertain socio-economic situation.
However, this is a distinct interpretation of AI. If we look at the same situation but from a different perspective, we can consider AI as a valuable opportunity that will allow us to save time, decrease routine work (which would allow people to focus their talents on more creative tasks, analytical or relevant), and allow for more time spent on leisure and enjoyment.
In regard to the robotics and automation of AI, there is much talk about how AI could replace workers in certain tasks. On the other hand, automation in conjunction with AI and everything technologically related will allow efficient, organized, and competitive organizations to have more time to generate new business deals. Its members, with new and greater knowledge, will find substantial value in their future roles.
The rise of AI, like every other new technological challenge, requires continuous learning, acquiring new habits, and applying our professional skills to the challenges of everyday life in the workplace.
If we view AI as an “opportunity”, we can start to see how automation and AI can serve as allies for individuals in the near future. In IT and robotics, specialists mention how AI and automation have brought solutions to what is known as the “3Ds”: Danger (dangerous tasks), Dull (boring tasks), and Dirty (dirty tasks/ “work”). Recently a fourth “D” has been identified: Difficult. This is because AI and automation are able to process large volumes of data and identify multiple solutions at a time.
Essentially, AI’s objective isn’t to replace human labor and work but to complement and help whichever workplace achieve its goals and full potential. That is why it’s so important to de-dramatize the context surrounding AI and focus on its potential for progress and evolution in the workforce. Evolution simply means change and most change leads to new opportunities.
The future of work
It’s often believed that this era of AI, same as previous technological revolutions, will generate a large quantity of changes and modifications in the workforce. However, we still do not know exactly what these modifications will be as they emerge.
For example, nobody could have predicted the impact of electronic mail (e-mail) on postal service companies when the Internet was born. Nor can we predict what will happen soon with the rise and development of hybrid and electrical cars. In a similar sense, nor will we be able to foresee the number and quality of innovative ideas that AI will generate.
However, what is certain is that AI will transform the jobs of a large percentage of current employees and will generate new ones soon. Contrary to this, manual labor and artisans that can’t be replaced by certain forms of technological innovation will regain prestige and value.
So, what will be the reality of the workforce in the near future? What careers will have the most difficulties and which careers will experience greater advantages? There are no definitive answers.
Everything points to the fact that the most affected professions will be those that involve less training capacity for routine and operative tasks. These include, for example, positions linked to office, administration, or sales tasks. On the contrary, some careers associated with technology, data analytics, the environment, and well-being will be more favored by the changes with AI.
As we mentioned earlier, if we view AI as an opportunity, it will provide us with solutions for technological security, medical diagnosis, automatic driving, market prediction, and optimization of certain processes.
Now zooming in on Human Capital, which is undoubtedly the most asset of an organization, the so-called «soft» competencies will continue to be highly valued and individuals that can work on a project basis, have initiative, lead teams, possess critical thinking, are great communicators, master conflict situations, and are resilient will be weighted.
Overall, AI is a powerful tool for many professional individuals to use as a tool to improve assertiveness, predictions, and quick agility. However, no intelligence or technology can replace the real human qualities of warmth, empathy, and sensibility.
By Valeria De Lazzari Pitt
