AI: What Does it Mean for the Future of Work?

It is a well-established fact that artificial intelligence (AI) will impact the future of work. Oracle.com defines artificial intelligence as applications that conduct complex tasks that once needed human input. AI uses computers and machines to make judgments and decisions, solve problems, learn, and reason; basically, AI simulates human intelligence. It can spot patterns and receive large amounts of data; an area where most humans are limited. But, what does AI mean for the future of work?

The Reality of AI: Transforming Our Workplaces

By 2025, 85 million jobs may be displaced due to automation, while 97 million new roles will emerge as humans and AI learn to coexist. By 2030, between 10 to 800+ million workers worldwide will be displaced by machines/automated processes. The McKinsey Global Institute reports that only 5% of occupations can be fully automated, but in approximately 60% of jobs, at least one-third of the activities could be automated. So, jobseekers must learn to work alongside machines and use new technologies and processes.

The Irony Behind AI: A Part of Daily Life

We engage with AI constantly. It exists in the algorithms that shape our social media feeds, the virtual assistants that answer questions online or on the phone, and the face ID you use to unlock your computing devices. AI is used when you ask Siri or Google to do something. Its capabilities have enabled innovations such as self-driving vehicles, connected “Internet of Things” devices, and a brain-controlled robotic arm that can help a paralyzed person feel again through complex direct human-brain interfaces.

How AI Will Shape the Future of Work and Enhance Human Potential

Will robots and machines replace all our jobs? Not likely, at least not anytime soon. Some predict that AI can and will create more jobs

Although AI is designed to raise the economy and enhance the quality of life, a primary concern about it relates to what degree AI will force workers to shift careers and even alter their lives. Automation can replace many mundane tasks such as scheduling meetings, answering questions, and writing to-do lists. The good news is that this frees up time that can be devoted to critical or creative tasks and projects. Thus, organizations, employers, and employees can benefit immensely by merging AI with human potential to achieve augmented intelligence; using machines and deep learning to enhance human capabilities, rather than replacing humans entirely.

Technology is not driving innovation to substitute, but rather to enhance, human potential. While many of us may dread the rise of AI, there are ways that we can embrace it. AI can’t replace the human heart connection.

Ethical Considerations

Artificial intelligence or computers that are taught to “think” like humans, can improve our health and reduce stress through advancements in medicine, manufacturing, and more. However, there are risks and drawbacks that need to be addressed.

AI must be used responsibly and ethically. Five recommendations have been created to provide guidelines on its development and use:

• Effective: Ensure AI is the right tool to address the problem/concern. While the improper use of a particular AI system may not directly pose harm, it may impact trust in other AI-based systems.
• Explainable: The logical decisions produced by AI should be communicated to stakeholders succinctly and resourcefully to gauge critical risks.
• Accountable: Organizations and individuals must be responsible for the outcomes of the AI systems they develop and deploy.
• Secure: AI systems should be safe from external interference through strategic initiatives, regulations, and policies.
• Fair: AI systems should address potential discrimination and bias. Assessing and testing systems can ensure safer outcomes and enhance worker acceptance.

AI and Recruitment

At the end of the day, humans hire humans. The human component in hiring, recruitment, selection, and retention must be balanced with technology to ensure equitable hiring free from biases. Therefore, collaboration will be required by recruiters, hiring managers, and AI experts.

The caveat is that many people will be concerned about AI’s reliability and trustworthiness, privacy, security, and mitigation of  biases. Transparency, equity, and accountability will be relevant during integration and usage. Therefore, reliable data, standards, validation, and verification are critical to successfully incorporating AI technologies into workplace processes.

The Implications of AI for Workers

Proponents of automation/augmentation argue that its implementation is not causing a decline in the number of human workers, but rather is responsible for creating potentially millions of new jobs. Among AI’s biggest benefits is its ability to save humans from having to perform tedious, repetitive tasks, thus freeing them up to focus on more complex and rewarding projects.

One thing many agree is a certainty; AI will require workers to acquire and/or strengthen their skills. Key among these are:

• Digital literacy skills to work with and supervise the machines.
• Technological skills, such as advanced programming.
• Interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence (EI), problem-solving, decision-making, and creativity skills will be required to make complex or sensitive decisions and navigate human interactions.

In the next decade, the demand for artificial intelligence specialists is estimated to grow by 36%. Those interested in pursuing a career in AI may be interested to know that salaries in the field often exceed six figures, even for entry-level positions.

The Implications of AI for Career Professionals

As career professionals, we are undoubtedly already using AI tools to manage our small businesses and give our productivity a boost, but we’ll need to educate and prepare our clients to focus on higher-value, higher-touch tasks requiring interpersonal skills, creativity, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurialism. We need to help our clients keep an open mind and envision a future of work that integrates AI and meaningful human interaction, rather than resisting change.

AI tools lack emotional intelligence, which propels career professionals to improve and help clients optimize their EI for career success. However, AI can pose various workplace safety hazards, including mental health and well-being. Thus, further research will be needed to explore the impact of these hazards and mitigate further AI-related risks for workers’ safety and wellness.

Conclusion

AI is driving economic growth and productivity with life-changing breakthroughs. It is quickly becoming an integral part of life through process automation, technological advancements, and lower production costs while growing capabilities and speed of computing power. Yet, everyone will need to adapt to the changes brought on by AI. These changes will have a major impact on the workplace of the future. Workers will need to learn innovative and advanced skills to stay competitive. Jobseekers will require affordable and accessible learning and upskilling opportunities to remain relevant.

We will all benefit by learning about, and embracing, AI. As career professionals, we can harness robotics or automation to perform low-value, repetitive tasks that are necessary, but consume valuable time. This will create greater space for us to champion our clients to pursue their goals and authentic purpose.

Invest in CPC’s courses and certification programs, and position your clients to embrace the new world of work.

Lori Jazvac is a passionate, award-winning Master Certified Résumé Strategist and Certified Employment Strategist through Career Professionals of Canada. As a multi-certified Master Résumé Writer and Certified Career Transition Coach, she specializes in helping clients navigate challenging career transitions. In 2013, an empowering vision inspired Lori to launch Creative Horizons Communications, a holistic career services firm where she virtually supports jobseekers around the globe to embrace their next career milestone. In her spare time, Lori enjoys dance, blogging, watching comedies and reality shows, yoga, and taking long walks in nature.

Ksenia Lazoukova is a Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP), Certified Résumé Strategist, Certified Career Strategist, Certified Employment Strategist, Certified Interview Strategist, and Certified Work-Life Strategist. She is a proud member and volunteer with Career Professionals of Canada. Ksenia is a dynamic career development professional, case manager, program coordinator, adult educator, and learning developer working at the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia where she helps newcomers to Nova Scotia achieve their employment and career goals. In her past role as a job coach, Ksenia provided a wide range of employment services to people with disabilities in the supported employment setting. Her passion is helping people of various backgrounds overcome multiple barriers, fulfill their life and career dreams and goals, and become more fully integrated into their communities.

Conny Lee is a Certified Holistic Narrative Career Practitioner, Online Business Manager for coaches, Certified Career (CCS), Employment (CES), and Résumé Strategist (CRS), Trauma of Money Facilitator, and Sacred Money Archetypes® Coach. She focuses on supporting people to create the career, business, and life they truly desire. To learn more, visit Conny’s website at connylee.com. When she isn’t working, Conny enjoys reading, listening, learning anything related to personal development, spending time with her family, and working out.