How can we coexist with artificial intelligence in the workplace?
According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs, 300 million fulltime jobs are at risk of being replaced by AI and roughly two-thirds of U.S. occupations are exposed to some degree of automation by AI. How can anyone worried about AI’s impact quell their fears and take steps to ensure they’re prepared to coexist in an increasingly AI-driven world?
According to industry pros I reached out to, adjusting the way we all look at AI is key — especially because it isn’t going to disappear any time soon.
“As we navigate the transformative impact of AI in the workplace, it’s crucial to address any fears or concerns and help the workforce view AI as a collaborative force,” says Nikhil Arora, CEO of the learning management system Epignosis.
Margaret Jennings, vice-president of product and co-founder of Kindo, points out the positive results that can happen when employees and AI work together. “The promise is that it will unlock our potential,” she says. “Our goal with AI technology is to enhance and elevate existing workflows, while enabling employees at every level to rise to new heights.”
The time savings AI can offer employees is a big benefit, Jennings and Arora stress.
“By assisting with the more routine aspects of their roles, AI offers the opportunity to free up valuable time for employees to engage deeply in areas they are most passionate about, or where they can make the most significant impact,” Jennings explains.
“AI will free up time for more strategic, creative and, thus, meaningful work,” Arora echoes. “After all, AI tools are not rivals, but collaborators that handle and automate all routine and repetitive tasks.”
Adapting, of course, will take more than an attitude adjustment.
“Business leaders should empower and encourage the development of skills that complement artificial intelligence and automation and ensure employees thrive while coexisting with AI,” says Arora.
Engaging in what Arora calls “continuous learning” can help workers adapt. “It is important to invest time in acquiring new skills that are crucial in today’s AI-driven world,” she says, noting that those skills should be the ones that AI may not be able to replicate easily.
“AI excels in data analysis and all functions that are repetitive, whereas humans possess capabilities such as emotional intelligence, creativity, and critical thinking — skills that make them indispensable in the workplace,” Arora explains.
Take copywriters, for example. Those creatives were identified as among the most atrisk of being replaced or streamlined by the rise of AI tools that offer speed and precision human writers can’t match, according to the AI experts at AI Product Reviews. However, taking steps to hone their writing, creative, and interpersonal skills can help copywriting pros successfully co-exist with AI “writers.”
“Despite AI’s efficiency, its occasional ‘hallucinations’ or errors highlight the ongoing need for human touch in content strategizing and audience engagement,” information from AI Product Reviews says.