Oct. 4, 2022
Read time: 3 minutes and 32 seconds.
tags:Will a robot steal your job?
Everyone’s buzzing about AI taking over jobs. Relax and take a breath. You probably won’t be replaced by the machines anytime soon, and here’s why. If you actually have the opportunity to see the nature of AI and how it’s currently working alongside the information on which it’s developed, you truly have little to worry about for the time being. The quality of AI and data really relies on the amount of high quality information that it’s trained upon.
The old tale of machines replacing humans isn’t new under any circumstance. Human beings and other forms of technology have been replacing the way we produce and work in the process making it a net positive for society as a whole. We’ve had machines replacing humans for really a long time… think of the car, the car replaced the horse. Now, this is especially important to note because we didn’t complete remove them or their function from society, but shifted how they help us transit or how they’re used.
With respect to AI and technology, most specialized and manual labour jobs are pretty safe for now. AI development faces quite a few hurdles as of writing this, especially when it requires learning about real-world experiences and the attempt to solve problems that are not documented online.
Now, more importantly is understanding the jobs that are in jeopardy. One of those that are the most susceptible is the communications manager. If you’ve ever watched office space, you’ll be familiar with the TPS reports.
Making sure the cover page is on the TPS report. Like, an AI won’t forget that so it won’t be a problem anymore I guess. But seriously, these communications professionals that bureaucratize things that cost money and waste time are now automatable allowing people to focus on real problems. Imagine what the car did for travel?
Instead of a 4 day hike to go and see a friend who lived 100 miles away, we instead can do that trek in two hours or less.
The same is what is happening in the world of AI and less than relevant jobs. I’m not discrediting the value of communicating. I am criticizing the way we have decidedly worked in offices because of the structure of work and the way humans have decidedly acted with the use of technology like e-mail. The thing that never dies. 🔪
So imagine, a communications manager that only reminds you of what’s relevant to you and when it’s necessary. Notifications that are set up on the fly and adapted based on the administrative rights or roles instead of CC’ing everyone on e-mail blasts no one cares about.
The human element is still king. Roles involving strategy, human interaction, and creative solutions are less likely to be automated in the near future. For now, we can count on jobs like instructors, one on one advisors or coaches and even… fortune tellers 🔮
Virtually any job that requires some form of direct engagement will always have priority at a time like this with the onset of AI because it’s so much more difficult to be able to train on this type of information and, additionally, be able to handle this information cohesively. Since human thinking and explanations are not typically well organized, we have to find sound ways of training it on the best and worst of what a human in a human-centric field like sales or teaching.
We’re not on the brink of an AI takeover. While AI will evolve, a complete job market overhaul is light-years away. However, there is still some real tangible threats from AI in the job market and it’s likely to effect the industries we expect least… like development and software. But think about it; An industry based on rules and practices that are replicable and have ways that are evidently better in one direction or another. There are better ways to do things, clearly in development and this is why it’s likely going to have a huge effect on technical or logician based industries.
Developers aren’t alone however. So are lawyers, accountants, and teachers. AI might take some jobs eventually, but it will likely be the more technical and specialized ones, rather than those requiring human interaction.
AI is a powerful tool, but it’s not an all-powerful job-stealing monster. Focus on developing skills that involve human connection, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. That’s your best bet for staying relevant in the evolving job market.