The use of AI continues to play a role in restructuring and reshaping the workplace. The impact of this is changing the work environment by job modifications, displacements and disrupting the style of working. The development of AI tools are also having an influence on constantly changing and growing the work environment as well. We need to realize that the impact of AI will not affect all jobs and some will feel a greater impact than others. But the extent of its impact depends very heavily on the type of job. Some roles will be highly vulnerable to robotics and automation, while the impact on others may be minimal. This factor will create greater risks to some roles, while others may grow and expand, creating greater opportunities in the future.   

By using AI tools employees can transform how their work gets done. Companies can benefit by providing the relevant AI tools, by providing training and development programs and by guiding employees to adopt new ways of working competently. AI productivity tools increase a team’s efficiency by automating routine tasks and improving workflow management which are crucial for productivity enhancement and cost effectiveness as well.

Some important criteria to be considered :

• AI proficiency : With the emergence of AI tools and gaining proficiency in using them, employees’ experience and the opportunities opening for them are beginning to broaden. Employees are becoming energized and motivated by the new tools available to them and the level of engagement is also rising. But with the higher level of engagement comes a higher risk that these employees may quit their jobs. The skills that they have developed are already, or will be in high demand in the job market very soon. Further their market value will also increase.
• Employee value proposition : How work will be done may change, but what employees expect will fundamentally remain the same. Employees would still expect, most importantly, meaningful work, career development opportunities, advancement, market-based salary and benefits as well as recognition. Employees will always value a company with a high level of engagement and strong leadership quality. In this era of very rapid change in technology, being aware of what motivates people and keeping pace with any changes is crucial in order to have a competitive advantage and attract the best talent.

OPPORTUNITIES CREATED BY AI

AI will have a big impact on automation as well and the influence of both will be felt on many jobs. It can also be expected that AI will create some entirely new jobs as well as professions. If you can recall, some 20 years ago we did not know the impact social media would have on many jobs as well as our lives in general. Having new jobs like Social Media Managers, Influencers, Content Creators and other roles came into existence. What does this tell us ? There are opportunities to identify new future roles and start preparing for them.

With the growth of economies, inflation, technological advancement and investment in infrastructure, education and healthcare, the requirement of highly skilled workers and professionals in these fields will also increase. With this shift in requirements in the modern world, it will become essential for men and women to reassess their skill set and make the required changes to adapt and grow their skills to retain jobs and gain full benefit from the AI focused job market of the future.

Then, the question also arises that with the advancement of AI, automation and robotics, what human skills will be required in the future ? The answer is simple. Unique human skills such as leadership, creativity, innovation, emotional intelligence and analytical thinking to name a few will become very valuable. Jobs which require these skills will be required and  become irreplaceable.  Those jobs which cannot be replaced by these developments will become relevant and valuable as these will also require academic/professional training as well as practical experience. Human experience is irreplaceable and jobs requiring these will always remain and be valued.

Further, AI will also be increasingly used in developing several key relevant areas which will create new job opportunities in the future. Some areas would include development of technology, ethical use of AI to safeguard misuse, healthcare research, and very importantly the green transition. Climate change and environmental impact have a big influence on wellbeing of the population and the world eco system. Renewable energy and sustainability are still relatively new areas and require innovative solutions to address the impact of climate change and its influence on the environment. This need and investment in renewable energy will create new jobs and fields for investment plus job opportunities in the future.

THE PROS AND CONS     

There are already many concerns and controversies arising regarding AI and its impact on the job market. There are people who support it and the benefits it will provide including greater access to education, research and development, enhanced productivity and better healthcare. At the same time many are against it and concerned at the impact it may have on stealing many existing jobs. Entry level, manual and repetitive jobs are at a greater risk where AI and robotics will have the greatest impact.

THE FUTURE

To adapt yourself and meet the challenges of the future it will be necessary to procure the skills which will be required to be relevant in the job market. If you are already working in the field of IT then it will be essential to develop AI focused skills as demonstrating your knowledge and experience of working with AI development will give you an advantage. 

To do so, develop new skills to adapt to future needs in the changing job market.

1. DEVELOP SOFT SKILLS : Routine tasks will be taken over by AI, but it cannot replicate human skills ie emotional intelligence and creativity. So developing your soft skills like communication, creativity, originality, leadership, problem solving, collaboration etc will still remain crucial.
2. SPECIALIZE : Learning new technology and specializing and developing an area of expertise will also become relevant in the future job market. You can differentiate yourself, use it to your advantage and increase your market value.
3. KEEP ABREAST : Develop your awareness and develop your ability to keep abreast and up-to-date of changing conditions and circumstances. Develop your ability to adapt quickly and upgrade yourself accordingly.
4. EMBRACE LIFE LONG LEARNING : Change will be so rapid that learning and adapting to new technology and ways of working will be essential in the future. This would mean that taking relevant courses and training yourself to use new technology will be most relevant. Attending workshops, conferences and reading up on new developments will be essential to remain up to date with latest trends and developments.    

Remember “Artificial intelligence is not a substitute for human intelligence. It is a tool to amplify it.” — Fei-Fei Li