This post was originally published on this site.
Last semester, my most challenging assignment in class was an essay. You might think that for me, a columnist, writing an essay should be easy. This essay wasn’t. It came with a caveat. At the end of the assignment, I had to write a statement explaining to my professor why he should believe that I wrote the essay, rather than artificial intelligence.
That got me thinking, what really differentiates me from AI? Is there anything that I can produce that AI can’t replicate? Maybe. I can show emotion and be empathetic, but AI is trained in those functions too. When I asked ChatGPT how to deal with a breakup, it responded, “Breakups are tough, and I’m sorry you’re going through this, Evelyn,” followed by a few steps to take. While this might seem like a cookie-cutter response, AI will continue to learn and will eventually be able to mimic human voice and tone.
It gets even worse when you realize that AI can do things you can’t do. ChatGPT can code in various languages, analyze a SQL Database and generate images. It can develop novel ideas for a product, essay or presentation.
With this in mind, it is easy to jump to the conclusion that AI will be replacing most jobs in the future. In fact, an economic analysis from Goldman Sachs estimates that nearly 300 million jobs could be exposed to automation, but this isn’t the full story. After continuing to read the report and speak to professionals in the industry, I have come to realize that the question is not about what AI can do better than you, but what you can do better with the help of AI.
Rather than eliminating careers, the development of AI creates an opportunity to change the fundamental responsibilities of these same careers. Rather than simply crunching numbers and creating assumptions, a data analyst in the future will have the skills to create and use AI to identify problems and pose solutions. Instead of eliminating the need for data analysts, it will simply make them more productive.
So how can we be prepared for the AI takeover? Be the person who knows how to use it. When American industries became computerized, some jobs did become obsolete, but there was also a large group of people who profited greatly. The forward-looking students who studied computer science and information technology were suddenly in high demand, with salaries to match.
Because history tends to repeat itself, young professionals should take the time to educate themselves as to how AI can be used to optimize their productivity. This could mean using AI to write emails, complete repetitive tasks or check through lines of code for mistakes. AI doesn’t have to find its way into every aspect of your career, but it should be used for the impersonal and time-consuming work that no one wants to do.
That being said, I commend The University of Connecticut and our Operations and Information Management Department for their commitment to readying their students for an automated world. Rather than banning the use of AI, professors are taking the time to educate students about its functions and processes. Not only does this teach students the basic skills they need to compete in the job market, but it also encourages them to dive deeper into the world of automation.
As economist Richard Baldwin says, “AI won’t take your job. It’s somebody using AI that will take your job.” No matter what industry you are in, save yourself some time and energy and stop worrying that your job is going to be taken by a robot. Instead, spend your time exploring the capabilities of artificial intelligence and the different products offered. You don’t have to be an expert, but you do have to demonstrate understanding and acceptance of AI because it is here to stay.