The rise of AI and its impact on jobs has been a topic of concern for many. While in June 2022, there was no interest in the term “Will AI take my job,” by January 2023, the search interest had risen to 46, and by mid-May, it had skyrocketed to 70. Open AI’s ChatGPT, a generative AI platform, was launched in November 2022 and is capable of producing original and creative outputs, such as text or code. While it has been incredibly successful, there are also widespread concerns about its widespread use. Geoffrey Hinton, known as the godfather of AI, has warned of the dangers of AI chatbots and recommended mitigating the risk of extinction from AI.
According to Accenture, 40% of all working hours could be impacted by generative AI tools. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 predicts that many jobs, including clerical and secretarial roles, bank tellers, data entry clerks, some legal roles, and customer service representatives, may decline. However, many experts believe that generative AI tools will not replace jobs but instead will act as assistants to workers, augmenting their capabilities and freeing up time for more profound work. AI has the potential to increase global GDP by up to $13 trillion by 2030, according to a report from the European Parliament.
Despite the widespread use of chatbots as an alternative to customer service roles, not everyone is convinced. An increasing number of companies prefer actual live sales reps to chat with online shoppers.
In conclusion, while AI will continue to impact and change the workforce, the most critical areas in which human workers excel, such as complex human interactions, creativity, empathy, and critical thinking, cannot be replaced by AI. To future-proof their careers, individuals can seek opportunities to sharpen their skills, such as the open roles at Kintsugi, Captain Compliance, and Afiniti.
