How do you prepare for AI in the workplace?
The hottest topic of 2023 is AI. Machine learning, Artificial Intelligence. Words that, if you spend any amount of time on social media, you'd be hard-pressed not to hear on a daily basis. There seems to be much excitement but also existential dread around AI, and its impact on the world. I ran a poll on LinkedIn, which was very mixed in sentiments towards the adoption and growth of AI within the workplace. There is some huge implications for humanity but I'll be focusing on employment here, so how do we prepare?
Let's start with the excitement. Why wouldn't we be excited about AI? It's a tool that will make our lives easier, right? I see new AI tools popping up daily, from writing a resume to automating job applications, SEO, and content creation. What's not to be excited about? These tools are set to make many menial aspects of a job automated and this is just the beginning.
However WEF report on the future of jobs estimates that by 2025, 85 million people could be replaced by AI. A Mckinsey Report report suggests that up to 800 million jobs could be taken over by AI by 2030. Many blue-collar jobs have already been affected by robots, but the rapid growth of AI is set to hit white-collar jobs as well. Some of the good news from these reports is that AI could also create up to 950 million jobs by 2030. Luckily, there is some guidance on how to prepare so we don't become part of what Yuval Noah Harari would describe as the useless class. I'm going to share that guidance with you today.
Becoming a lifelong learner
In the face of AI, it is more important than ever to become a lifelong learner. We should take steps to upskill and, in some cases, reskill. While it is hard to predict the future, it might be a good bet to target the technology industry. Some reports also suggest education or healthcare as industries that could grow. I suggest tech because I believe being as close as possible to AI and what's coming is a safe bet. There are the traditional trajectories like cybersecurity, data science, and web development, but also emerging jobs like AI prompt engineers and other yet unknown jobs that could emerge.
If you're coming from another industry, you should identify your interests and find relevant courses, training programs, and resources that will help you achieve your goals. This also applies to university students and school leavers. You can take a traditional education in university, but you should also keep adding additional skills to your repertoire via courses, free or otherwise. I may one day elaborate on my journey from recruitment to web development and content creation, too, because just like you, I want to stay relevant in this quickly changing landscape.
Another valuable application is to learn and effectively utilize AI tools that are relevant to your current job, enabling you to automate tasks and streamline your workload. The more immediate threat to job security is other people who use AI and do the job of 5 people because of it. These people will be more hirable and attractive prospects to companies. Consider the recent release of the Google Generative A.I Course , which holds immense potential for professionals in marketing and content creation. So we should look for tools and upskill in areas that can increase our efficiency in our current role and by extension make us valuable to our jobs.
Networking & Social Media
To further explore the importance of networking and personal branding, I invite you to check out my previous article on Building A Personal Brand.This resource will provide you with valuable insights and pointers to get started. Moreover, networking and social media have a direct relevance to AI and can significantly contribute to your ability to stay ahead in the game.
Personally, I might have been unaware of the Generative AI course mentioned earlier had it not been for my network. It highlights the significance of maintaining connections and leveraging them to gain insights into emerging fields and advancements. As AI continues to gain prevalence in the workplace, reports suggest that networking is one of the key strategies to implement in order to stay relevant.
In conclusion, embrace the exhilarating journey of becoming a perpetual learner and masterful networker, catapulting your job prospects and unleashing untapped earning potential. As the unstoppable force of AI surges forward, it is our unwavering determination to adapt and evolve that will ensure our unyielding relevance in this ever-changing landscape.