Generative AI (probably) won’t take your job. But it will change the way you work
When you read or listen to anything about generative AI and its impact on employment, it’s often a story of job losses. Massive waves of job losses as more and more tasks are handed over to machines.
But the truth is more complicated – and more optimistic – than that. Because, rather than cutting jobs, the biggest impact of generative AI will likely be job increase. In this article, we’ll look at what this means in practice and help you explore how your own work might be impacted.
Generative AI accelerates automation
There’s no doubt about it: Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are accelerating the broader trend of AI-driven automation. A 2023 McKinsey report found that, by 2030, activities that total 30 percent of hours currently applied in the American economy could be automated. That’s a pretty significant share, and yet some jobs will be more affected than others.
If we look at Indeed’s AI At Work 2023 report, the results suggest that approximately 20 percent of jobs could be considered “highly exposed” to generative AI automation – meaning the technology is considered good or excellent at 80% or more of all skills for this job. At the other end of the scale, 34% of jobs had “low or minimal” exposure – but even that means generative AI is good or excellent in up to 50% of jobs.
In other words, almost all jobs will be impacted to some extent by generative AI. Some jobs will cease to exist, but many others will be augmented or changed by AI tools. And, of course, new jobs will be created, as has been the case in previous waves of transformation.
At the “highly exposed” end of the scale
Customer service representative is a job that has one of the highest risks of removal thanks to generative AI. Many customer service tasks are already automated via chatbots – and this will only increase. ChatGPT, for example, is much more impressive than your average customer service chatbot and is constantly improving. In the future, generative AI chatbots will regularly talk to customers and help them solve their problems.
But even in this highly exposed field, that doesn’t mean everyone who works in customer service is on a one-way road to layoff. Even though many tasks within customer service can be automated, there are still scenarios that require human intervention. Complex problems, sensitive topics or situations requiring empathy and judgment will always be better handled by humans. It is therefore likely that the role of the customer service representative will evolve, with a smaller group of humans working alongside AI tools. In this scenario, humans will oversee AI operations and manage the more complex interactions.
At the other end of the scale: increasing jobs
What exactly do we mean by “employment growth”? The augmentation means that instead of human workers being replaced by generative AI systems, job roles will adapt to incorporate generative AI. Indeed, many jobs – including knowledge work and creative roles – will increasingly incorporate generative AI tools.
Essentially, this will mean automating certain tasks that are repeatable and simple – the kind of work that doesn’t really require human contact. This allows people to focus their time and efforts on aspects that require uniquely human skills.
Teaching, for example, is a role that will always require a human touch. A good teacher’s ability to inspire young minds and create a genuine connection with students is special. But can teachers use generative AI to streamline lesson planning? Absolutely. Likewise, doctors can use generative AI tools to interpret medical images or generate medical notes more quickly, freeing up more time for patient care. Lawyers can use generative AI to automate certain contract research and analysis tasks. And software developers can use generative AI to automate parts of the code creation and testing process.
So, what about your job?
I would advise everyone to take a good, hard look at their job to see which parts of the role are exposed to automation and which require a human touch. A good starting point is to ask yourself questions such as:
· How does my work add value?
· Which of my tasks can be automated?
· And, most importantly, how can I use generative AI to add greater value/provide better service/do better work?
This last question is crucial. Because this process isn’t just about assessing your risk level, it’s also about finding new ways to do your job better and easier by leveraging generative AI tools.
And if you find that your job is heavily exposed to automation, ask yourself how as add value to the world? To put it another way, what would you rather do? In his book Following! The power of reinvention in life and workJoanne Lipman presents a four-step reinvention roadmap that helps people transition to a new way of working and/or living:
· Research: This step involves identifying the information and experiences that will inform your transition. For example, it could be a side hustle, a hobby, or a subject that you are particularly passionate about.
· Struggle: This stage is where you begin to disconnect from your previous identity, but perhaps you don’t yet know where you are going. We often overlook this step in favor of dramatic stories like “I quit my job and now I’m teaching yoga classes in the woods.” But the truth is that this step takes time. And it’s a struggle, hence the name.
· Stop: It’s the thing that ends up stopping you in your tracks – like a change in circumstances, or something like a global pandemic, or a decision to quit your job.
· Solution: And in this final stage, the transition is complete.
If there’s one thing I want people to take away from this article, it’s that generative AI is not something to fear. Yes, this will result in job losses for some people. But it also has the potential to make better.
Learn more about generative AI and its impact in my new book, Generative AI in Practice: 100+ Amazing Ways Generative Artificial Intelligence is Changing Business and Society.