Title: The Advantage of Older Generations in the AI Boom: Unmatched People Skills and Experience
Artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked debates about its potential to replace jobs, specifically whether tech-savvy Gen Zers could outpace older generations. However, according to an Oxford economist, there is a group of workers who may benefit from the AI boom: those possessing people skills that AI can never replicate.
Carl Benedikt Frey, coauthor of a renowned 2013 paper that projected 47% of US jobs being at risk by the 2020s due to automation, believes that individuals who can establish their presence in a room, build relationships, motivate, and persuade will thrive in the age of AI.
A decade since the publication of his paper, Frey remains optimistic that the rise of generative AI will not lead to massive job displacement in the near future. Nevertheless, he acknowledges that AI’s automation of online tasks could make certain remote jobs susceptible, leaving older workers with invaluable experience that automation cannot replicate.
After years of working in office environments and honing social and leadership skills, seasoned employees may excel in a world where face-to-face interaction is increasingly valued due to generative AI.
Frey asserts that in such a future, older workers with more managerial experience are better positioned.
While Frey and other experts believe that Gen Z will likely adapt well to new technologies, learning and eventually mastering the AI tools vital to their jobs might not be enough. If widespread use of AI tools like ChatGPT levels the playing field in industries such as writing, coding, and graphic design, younger workers might need to go beyond digital environments to stand out.
This is because there are certain tasks that AI cannot perform. This is where human interaction, teamwork, creativity, and adaptability come into play, as well as other soft skills that set individuals apart.
Frey explains that generative AI can mimic many online interactions, making workers who heavily engage in virtual communication more vulnerable to automation. Consequently, remote roles are more exposed to automation, while in-person interactions, which AI cannot easily substitute, become more valuable.
In conclusion, while it is true that AI is rapidly advancing and impacting various industries, it is clear that older workers bring unique advantages to the table. Their years of experience, coupled with refined people skills, make them well-suited to an AI-driven world that values face-to-face interaction. Younger generations, on the other hand, must leverage their adaptability and focus on honing indispensable human skills to thrive alongside AI.
