Many of us, I’m sure, have dreams or fears about the future where machines rule the planet when we hear the word “AI.” Although it is impossible to anticipate exactly how AI will develop in the future, current trends and advancements offer a very different image of how AI will affect our daily lives. AI has been portrayed in the media in a variety of ways.
In actuality, AI is already in use everywhere, influencing everything from our search results to our chances of finding love online to the way we shop. According to data, over the last four years, the use of AI in several business areas has increased by 270%.
How will AI affect the nature of work in the future? This has been one of the most important queries as technology and computers have advanced. The development of artificial intelligence, like many other technological advances throughout history, has raised concerns about the future of human labor.
The truth is certainly far less gloomy but perhaps much more complex.
What is AI?
Before we delve into the specific ways that AI will affect the future of employment, it’s critical to define AI simply. Artificial intelligence is simply defined as “the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to accomplish tasks frequently associated with intelligent beings” by Britannica.
The word “AI” has evolved to refer to any developments in computing, systems, and technology that enable computer programs to carry out activities or address issues that call for the kind of reasoning we associate with human intelligence, even picking up from prior experiences.
This ability to learn is a key component of AI. Algorithms, like the dreaded Facebook algorithm that replaced all our friends with sponsored content, are often associated with AI. But there is a key distinction.
As software journalist Kaya Ismail writes, an algorithm is simply a “set of instructions,” a formula for processing data. AI takes this to another level, and can be made up of a set of algorithms that have the capacity to change and rewrite themselves in response to the data inputted, hence displaying “intelligence.”
AI will probably not make human workers obsolete, at least not for a long time
The robots are probably not coming for your jobs, at least not yet, so you can put some of your worries to rest.
Being so pessimistic is unnecessary, in my opinion.
Artificial intelligence advancements and their relationship to the workplace were thoroughly examined in a recent article by the MIT Task Force on the Future of Work titled “Artificial Intelligence and The Future of Work.” The paper presents a more upbeat scenario.
Instead of advocating the demise of human labor, the study makes the prediction that AI will continue to inspire significant innovation that will support many existing businesses and may even have the ability to create a number of new growth sectors and, eventually, additional jobs.
While AI has made great gains toward imitating human intelligence’s effectiveness in carrying out some jobs, there are still significant limitations. In particular, AI systems often only possess “specialized” intelligence, which means they can only carry out one activity at a time and solve a single problem. They are frequently stiff, unable to adapt to input changes or engage in any “thinking” that deviates from the predetermined programming.
However, humans are capable of “generalized intelligence,” which includes the kind of problem-solving, abstract thought, and critical judgment that will remain crucial in the corporate world. Even if human judgment isn’t necessary for every work, it is relevant at every level and in every industry.
Numerous other elements might stop the rapid development of AI. AI frequently calls for “learning,” which might include enormous volumes of data. This raises concerns about the availability of the proper kind of data, emphasizes the need for classification, and draws attention to concerns about privacy and security related to such data. Additionally, calculation and processing capacity have their limits. One supercharged language model AI was expected to cost $4.6 million in electricity alone.
The fact that data can be biased and reflect societal injustices or the unconscious prejudices of the designers who create and enter the data is another significant restriction to be aware of. An artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to produce biased findings if the data it is fed contains prejudice.
The MIT CCI study makes the case that we are a long way from developing AI that is on par with human intelligence and could, in theory, completely replace human employees based on these and many other considerations.
AI can have a big impact on the job search
If you are pushing forward in the hope that a hiring manager would overlook a little error on your application, you might be in for a harsh awakening. Up to 75% of resumes are now rejected by an automated applicant tracking system, or ATS, before they are even seen by a human person, demonstrating the significant role AI already plays in the recruiting process.
Many have criticized the usage of specific types of AI by hiring managers because they believe it can perpetuate and continually increase hiring bias, despite the fact that automation and algorithms are becoming more common in the hiring process.
It is obvious that as new technology advances, there will undoubtedly be debate regarding the usage of specific types of AI in the recruiting process. However, there is no reason why you cannot use a similar piece of technology to your advantage if prospective employers are employing AI to review your application.
- Jobscan is an excellent resource that provides similar resume scanning to what would be used by a hiring manager. By comparing your resume to a job description, Jobscan will give you information on how to tweak your resume so that it is a good match for a certain position, with the goal of “beating” an application tracking system (ATS).
- Jobseer is a browser add-on, and another great AI-based tool for those on the job market. Based on a scan of your resume, as well as keywords and skills related to your desired jobs, Jobseer will help match you with the job listings that best fit your experience. .
- Rezi: Now, as a disclaimer, I would never encourage you to turn your resume writing over to a bot. But Rezi is an awesome AI-based resume builder that includes templates to help you design a resume that is sure to check the boxes when it comes to applicant tracking systems.
Given that AI will have such broad effects across numerous industries, it is also a wonderful area to concentrate your efforts on if you want to advance your career or boost the competitiveness of your professional profile.
Many assessments of the top job market talents for 2018 place AI and machine learning at the top. The number of jobs requiring AI or machine learning skills is predicted to rise by 71% during the next five years. Consider taking advantage of some of the fantastic free online courses available that concentrate on AI skills if you’d like to broaden your knowledge in this field.
Whether we like it or not, AI is undoubtedly here to stay. Personally, I don’t believe there is anything to be concerned about. The greatest approach to advance is to be conscious of and adapt to the new technology that is all around us, including AI.
