There is a looming question in the minds of many, “Will Artificial Intelligence destroy my Career?”
With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the world is evolving into something beyond human imagination.
It has made our lives easier and more efficient, revolutionizing many sectors of our society.
Let's examine the impact AI has had on white-collar jobs, and discuss the future of AI.
Pros and Cons of AI in the Workplace
Artificial Intelligence has and will continue to transform the way we work.
With its ability to analyze data, automate tasks, and more - there is no doubt that it has already brought significant benefits to many professionals in various fields.
However, with AI comes the risk of eliminating jobs, particularly white-collar jobs. White-collar jobs involve administrative, managerial, or professional duties; that typically require office work rather than manual labor.
This includes jobs such as accountants, financial analysts, HR managers, and market research analysts, just to name a few.
One of the most significant benefits of AI in the workplace is that it can help improve productivity by streamlining and automating repetitive and mundane tasks.
For instance, chatbots are now taking up most customer service interactions, which makes businesses more available 24/7.
Additionally, software algorithms can complete simple to complex financial analysis with the click of a button. These are examples of how AI can add efficiency to the workforce.
On the other hand, AI can take jobs away from people and create a range of problems on a larger scale. One such problem is the impact on the economy, as AI can produce goods and services at a faster rate, reducing the need for human involvement for the same job.
Additionally, the cost of maintaining AI may be lower in the long run than it is to employ human beings.
In other words, AI may become a cheaper alternative to human labor - thus, reducing the availability of jobs in the market.
The Impact of AI on White-Collar Jobs
While AI will certainly impact many industries, one of the areas hit the hardest is white-collar jobs.
The adoption of intelligent technologies in organizations is linked with the ability of the technology to automate administrative tasks, which means fewer job openings or more qualifications needed for an equivalent job.
The world is already seeing the impact of automation jobs in industries such as legal, finance, and transportation, which are starting to feel the impact of artificial intelligence at an individual level.
Take the legal sector, for example - automated programs already can manage legal research tasks that, historically, were conducted by lawyers.
In finance, technology like blockchain and smart contracts may reduce the need for traditional banking jobs like bank tellers or loan originators.
The impact of AI in industries like legal and finance is a result of the transition from humans to machines, and it's essential to understand that the replacement of humans has always been an organic occurrence within organizations.
However, the speed at which it is happening is increasing. AI has become more advanced, increasing its abilities and reducing the need for human involvement.
The Future of AI and White-Collar Jobs
So, will Artificial intelligence destroy careers and replace all white-collar jobs? As of right now it's unlikely, but in the future who knows what could happen.
AI has significant advantages in automating data analysis that will enable the development of more high-quality workplaces.
However, as with any technological advancement, it has limitations. AI is skilled at completing repetitive activities, including those that require very high precision.
On the other hand, it would struggle with jobs that require context sensitivity or intuition. A good example is the creative field, where AI may not take over, as it does not yet have the capacity for such activities.
As a result, the use of AI in the workplace will likely lead to higher demands for workers with these specific skills: creativity, judgement, and critical thinking.
AI will decline jobs related to data entry or basic data analysis, whereas more high-level work will become more in-demand.
People who have skills in these fields will be better positioned to take advantage of the technology rather than be replaced by it.
Does Artificial Intelligence Destroy Careers?
As of right now, the threat of AI replacing all jobs is not the case, but it is evident that AI will have a significant impact in the workforce.
AI will continue to automate specific tasks and activities, and it will create more potential for high-level, specialized job opportunities.
While it's true that there may be a decrease in demand for specific jobs as a result of AI, it can also be seen as an opportunity to develop new and more advanced job roles.
Therefore, it’s important that we start planning and adapting now to ensure today's workers still have a place in tomorrow’s workforce.
If you want a more in depth answer to this question, I recommend watching the full debate on the topic between Bryan Sharpe and Cyprian.
