Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to create a lot of job opportunities. But this could all go wrong depending on how AI is applied in the workplace, says research. The report also argues that AI is bound to replace some jobs, but it will also create new roles and fields where they can work.
The world is changing. The status of a job may no longer be in your hands as soon as the applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will become commonplace at every level of work, from factory work to office work. The era of robots has begun and it's going to change the nature of work drastically.
Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace
AI technology can be beneficial in several areas, including reducing the time that we spend on our work and allowing us to scope out more work in shorter time periods. AI can also help in the workplace by eliminating a number of operations that are manual in nature, effectively reducing human error. This can be particularly helpful in sectors like healthcare, as errors can be costly.
There is no denying that artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving and growing more sophisticated every day. With its ability to learn, process, and make decisions at lightning speeds, AI has the potential to revolutionize the workplace as we know it.
Here are some ways AI can help:
- Automate repetitive tasks: If you find yourself doing the same task over and over again, there's a good chance that AI can automate it for you. This could free up your time so you can focus on more important tasks.
- Improve communication and collaboration: AI-powered chatbots can serve as virtual assistants to help with tasks like scheduling meetings or sending reminders. In addition, AI can help team members collaborate more effectively by providing real-time translations of documents or conversations.
AI is all about Automation
With AI advances in machine learning and automation on the horizon, it's time to take a closer look at AI and what it could mean for your job performance. Think of it this way: artificial intelligence is all about automation. And if you think that means your job is going to be replaced by robots (or even software) then think again.
AI will make you better at your job by automating tasks that are lower-level and tedious – freeing up time to focus on creative ideas and doing things differently than before.
The truth is that AI can't do everything, yet. But by automating the lower-level tasks and freeing up time for human creativity, AI will make you better at your job than ever before.
Major Areas of Workplace AI applications
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used to make decisions based on data. This may be a simple task like recognizing what a person wearing a certain shirt looks like, or it could be as complex as helping a financial analyst make sense of the data in their portfolio.
While there are many different applications of AI in the workplace, some of the most common ones include:
- Robotics - Robots are used in manufacturing industries to perform tasks that were once done by people. They can help with assembly lines, robotic welding, and other manual tasks that require workers to stand for long periods of time. Robots can also perform repetitive work that requires little thought and no training.
- Smart surveillance systems - Smart surveillance systems are becoming more sophisticated and efficient with age. They provide real-time alerts when suspicious activity occurs, enabling security personnel to respond immediately rather than waiting for an employee to report suspicious activity after it has happened.
- Biometrics identification technology - Biometric identification systems such as fingerprint scanners use physical characteristics from us humans (such as fingerprints) to automatically verify who we are on social media platforms or at our bank accounts.
Will AI Replace My Job?
In 1931, John Maynard Keynes in his book, Economic Possibilities for our Grandchildren, predicted that by 2030, technology would have advanced sufficiently that everyone could enjoy 15-hour work per week while devoting the rest to their culture and leisure (1).
This might now seem like an unrealistic utopia. And yet technology has not just replaced the muscle and sweat of manual labor but is increasingly replacing mental tasks too.
With self-driving cars now on American highways, doctors being told they may soon be made redundant by AI and computer code beaters at Go, chess, and Jeopardy - what next? Human Redundancy?
It is frightening to think how many occupations or skills are becoming or will become redundant with increased robotic automation. When people hear about machines taking over jobs, they might think of a factory full of humans and robots making things 24 hours a day. But this is not true.
In reality, machines are only doing a small percentage of the work. Most of the work will still be done by humans. The jobs that will be taken over by machines are typically ones that require mundane and repetitive tasks, like flipping burgers or sorting clothes at a warehouse (2)(3). Because these aren’t things that we need humans for (most likely).
Many people fear that artificial intelligence will take over their jobs and leave them with nothing to do. Fortunately, this isn’t the case. Because cognition and creativity can not be easily replaced by AI (4).
What Kind of Jobs can be replaced by AI
The first thing to note is that AI can only perform specific tasks. One such task might be checking an email for spam content and it would take one second for AI to do this as opposed to an hour for a human.
Another such job might be opening folders or tabs, searching for content on the internet, then either logging into multiple websites or executing a series of mouse clicks (tasks like these happen very frequently and can get repetitive).
Tasks like these are ideal ones where AI could easily streamline the process with great success. Tasks that require creativity or thinking outside the box are not where AI shines in this area and will never replace humans in terms of completing jobs like these.
Cognition and Creativity can not be easily replaced by AI
With the advent of artificial intelligence and robotics, there is a lot of talk about how machines will soon be able to do our jobs for us. Some people even believe that robots will eventually replace humans altogether.
While it is true that machines are becoming increasingly capable, there are many reasons to believe that they will never be able to fully replace humans.
For one thing, machines lack the creativity and ingenuity that humans possess. They can follow instructions and carry out pre-programmed tasks, but they cannot come up with new ideas or solve problems in the same way that humans can.
Additionally, machines do not have the ability to feel emotions, which means they would not be able to interact with humans in the same way.
Even if machines were able to do our jobs, there would still be a need for humans. Someone would need to oversee the machines and make sure they were working properly.
Additionally, there would always be a risk of malfunction or error, which would require human intervention.
In short, while machines may one day be able to do some of the things humans do, they will never be able to fully replace us.
More and more companies need automation for their business, so the demand for good AI engineers is increasing.
More and More Companies need Automation for their Business, so the Demand for Good AI Engineers is Increasing
As businesses increasingly look to automate their operations, the demand for AI engineers is skyrocketing. Companies are searching for talented individuals who can develop and implement AI solutions that can help streamline their businesses.
As a result, AI engineers are in high demand and can command high salaries. If you're interested in a career in AI, now is the time to get started.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment opportunities will grow about as fast as the average through 2024. One way to gain AI experience is by enrolling in an AI degree program, which usually lasts four years but varies depending on your chosen discipline and area of study. With this degree, you'll learn how to code artificial intelligence systems, manage them when they malfunction or make errors, and more!