The development of artificial intelligence (AI) has been a mix of excitement, fear, hope, and apprehension. As Microsoft recently announced the imminent release of its powerful AI-driven ChatGPT model, open questions were raised about its potential to wipe out human jobs and leave many in the labor market behind.
While it is true that AI can help with routine, mundane tasks, thus allowing humans to focus on creativity and more stimulating duties, it is also true that AI threatens to invade further into the labor market, with many professionals competing for fewer roles in an ever-tighter market.
This is particularly visible in the digital sector, where AI tools are now cheaper and faster to create than they ever were before, making it easier to automatize content creation and eliminate human involvement. The same principles apply to coding, website design, visual design, and even accounting, as automated solutions become more and more common, and “machine whisperer” jobs are a necessity.
Moreover, while many are aware of the strides made in digital automation, fewer are as aware of the advances made in physical automation, with robotic arms and drones performing menial labor that used to be employed by humans. Again, the savings in time and resources are massive, and the few jobs that are left now require highly specialized skills.
Taken together, it is easy to see how the introduction of AI automation can, at least in theory, change the nature of employment and create a situation in which humans would no longer enjoy the same party of jobs that they currently possess. The upside of this is that there is now much less reliance upon individual strength or intellect and much more on creativity and innovation—qualities that still remain exclusively human.
To illustrate this, let’s consider the example of Microsoft and its release of the ChatGPT model. Microsoft was specifically looking to integrate AI-powered services and operations into its product suite. Google and Facebook have also followed a similar path, and it is likely that AI capabilities will only continue to become more massive, more powerful, and more widespread, as they are implemented by more and more organizations.
In this context, it is worth noting the success of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT and other AI models. Since its inception, OpenAI has been a pioneer in the field of AI and has been a driving force behind advances in AI automation and robotics. As it continues to push boundaries and set the standard for AI development, companies like OpenAI are likely to have a lasting impact on the labor market.
Finally, it is worth discussing the importance of having a proactive attitude when dealing with the fears associated with AI automation. To this end, it is vital to remember that it is still possible to introduce new techniques and strategies that can ultimately save or even create jobs. For example, what Sweden has done with its trailblazing robotic warehouses could be a prime example of how AI automation can be implemented in ways that ultimately benefit humanity.
Ultimately, with AI development, it is now possible to do things faster, better and cheaper than before, and this represents a great opportunity for developing businesses. However, the flip side of this shift is that workers must be willing and prepared to compete in an ever-tightening job market, and embrace the importance of creativity and innovation in the face of automation.
