introduction
In the past, “automation” generally referred to industrial robots. But now, artificial intelligence (AI) has the capability to generate written documents, evaluate medical images, as well as decide if an applicant will be hired for a job or not. With this rapid pace of change comes an important, yet unsettling question: What is a job going to look like once machines start exhibiting the cognitive abilities of humans (i.e., think, learn and adapt)?
Artificial intelligence has transitioned from an obscure technology into one that is a key driver of economic and Work Place transformation. Many companies (across all sectors of the economy) are implementing artificial intelligence-based technology to improve efficiency, lower their costs and increase the quality of their decision making. As this change accelerates, it is creating both changes in the way that work is performed, as well as redefining what types of work will be available to individuals who are entering the Job Market.
This article will explore the three main ways in which artificial intelligence will shape the future of work: 1) through automating repetitive job functions; 2) creating entirely new jobs and skill sets; and 3) changing the way humans and machines collaborate on the job.
Replacing Tasks, Not Whole Positions
AI as a Tool to Replace Tasks Rather Than Human Beings
One of the most prevalent apprehensions associated with artificial intelligence is that AI will cause some worker to be jobless. While simple automation exists, a plethora of academic studies have concluded that artificial intelligence usually acts to replace particular tasks rather than all jobs in an industry. The majority of jobs have a combine of repetitive tasks, analytical tasks, and creative tasks—of which only some have been subject to recurring and vast amounts of data.
Some current examples of this are:
Fraud detection (or transaction monitoring) has now been automated by artificial intelligence in the finance sector—but the interpretation of the results from this process and the acceptance or rejection of the transactions remain the job of a human employee.
At healthcare organizations, the artificial intelligence systems in place already routinely analyse both X-rays and MRI scans; however, medical practitioners will continue to diagnose patients and provide them with care.
Across customer service areas, inquiry types handled by chatbots are increasingly simple; however, complex inquiries still require involvement from a human employee.
Partially automating the processing of work allows worker(s) to place themselves in a position to undertake higher added-value types of work such as creating and implementing strategic plans, solving problems, or building or maintaining professional relationships. In many management or executive roles, the use of technology has reduced the importance of technology and increased the demand for human qualities (i.e. motivation, empathy, etc.).
Drawing Distinctions from Historically Used Automation
The historical automation of business processes has relied on business processes that have been programmed with specific functional requirements and structured in a fixed way. The artificial intelligence of today uses data to learn and develop by leveraging specific patterns in historical business processes. As a result of its flexible use, artificial intelligence is substantially stronger than earlier generations/technologies of automation but the limitations of artificial intelligence (i.e. lack of judgment, lack of empathy, and lack of ability to understand context) are considerable.
As AI is evolving rapidly, new types of jobs and new types of skills have emerged in parallel with the development and advancement of AI. In particular, these roles represent the intersection between people and technology and did not exist ten years ago, but are rapidly growing.
Some of the new job types that have been created as a result of the evolution of AI include:
- AI trainers and data annotators, who teach AI how to process and interpret information;
- Machine learning engineers and AI product managers, who are responsible for designing and implementing AI solutions;
- Ethics and compliance officers, who work to ensure that AI is used in an ethical and responsible manner; and
- Cybersecurity specialists, who are responsible for protecting AI-driven technologies.
According to several studies on the labour market, the demand for jobs that require digital skills and AI-related skills is growing significantly faster than overall job growth. This rapid transformation illustrates the need for continuous learning, adaptability, and other qualities that will be vital for those who want to be successful in the future workplace.
In general, the best workers in an economy that relies heavily on AI will be those who are the most adaptable—rather than those who are the most technically skilled. Consequently, many of the skills that will be in demand in the future will be:
- Critical thinking and the ability to solve complex problems;
- Data literacy abilities and a basic understanding of AI;
- Creativity, communication, and leadership skills; and
Unlike past technology transformations, AI has impacted both white- and blue-collar workers. However, it has also created tremendous opportunities for the large-scale reskilling and upskilling of workers through the use of e-learning and AI-based learning solutions.
Collaboration Between People and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Shape Our Future Work Environment
Changing Technology from a Tool to a Team-Mate
AI is becoming much more than a background tool. In many companies today, AI is used as an assistant for decision making, or digital assistants to aid people in their jobs. The most efficient businesses leverage AI technologies as partners instead of substitutes.
Examples of how humans and AI are working together include:
- Marketing Professionals using AI to help them determine what consumers want and then using human creativity to develop marketing campaigns.
- Engineers using AI simulations to validate their designs before they actually build any of the parts.
- HR professionals using AI systems to assist with resume screening, but ultimately using human-instinct as to who gets hired.
- By combining the strengths of both people and AI, we see better results versus using humans or AI alone. Human beings have the ability to apply judgment and values, while AI uses speed and scale.
The Importance of Human Oversight With AI
With the rapid advancements made with AI, there are cases where systems created by artificial intelligence may create bias, errors, or simply not perform optimally when faced with something that they have never experienced before. It is important for humans to have oversight of AI systems to ensure ethical and legal use of technology. Human oversight is critical for industries that deal with hiring, lending, healthcare, and law enforcement.
When collaboration between people and AI is used instead of completely automated processes, organizations experience lower risk and have greater confidence in the processes. Organizations that use collaborative models are also more in line with the public’s view of corporate accountability and transparency.
calculation
AI is transforming the job market in powerful and multifaceted ways. For one, it is making work more productive, allowing employees to focus on higher-level tasks rather than low-level repetitive tasks. Secondly, AI is generating new jobs and increasing the demand for skills that allow for flexibility and adaptability in the future. Thirdly, AI is changing how work is done as people work alongside computers and machines to improve their productivity and capabilities rather than eliminating them altogether.
As we look to the future, the question isn’t whether AI will change the way people work but rather how to react to its arrival. All levels of the economy must invest in re-training workers and developing ethical guidelines regarding technology. Workers need to develop habits of lifelong learning and understanding that they will have many different career paths as they progress through their careers.
The call to action
there is no need to fear AI; rather, we need to learn how to use it. Those who adapt and learn to operate with AI will continue to be relevant while helping create a new working environment based on innovation, productivity, and humanity.