Thanks to the launch of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, artificial intelligence (AI) is the trending topic everyone has heard about.
In fact, J.P. Morgan analysts say that Gen AI represents a seismic shift. “The advent of generative AI is a seminal moment in tech, more so than the Internet or the iPhone,” says Mark Murphy, head of U.S. enterprise software research at the firm.
“We see the potential for a massive workforce productivity boom over the next one to three years, which could affect the shape of the economic cycle. There could also be mass-scale white-collar job realignment four to eight years from now.”
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- Federal Procurement Lead, IBM, Keyser ($158,000-$239,000)
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It is these kinds of predictions that result in caution among the American public about AI, according to a recent YouGov survey. It found that the dominant feeling Americans have about artificial intelligence is wariness, with 54% describing their feelings as “cautious”. Another 49% say they are concerned, 40% are skeptical, 29% are curious, and 22% are scared.
While the concepts around artificial intelligence are only gaining ground among the wider public now, the fact is that AI has been in use for many years––and you likely use it daily.
You’ve used it when you’ve asked Siri or Alexa a question, or you’ve said “Hey Google”, to get your speaker to play music. Interactions with a customer service chatbot on a web page, or use of an Internet of Things device, like a doorbell camera, are also examples of how you may have interacted with artificial intelligence in your daily life.
To gain an understanding of how aware the American public are with regards to their use of AI in daily life, Pew Research Center surveyed 11,004 U.S. adults, and found that 44% think they do not regularly interact with AI.
Pew’s research also identified that just 15% of Americans are more excited than concerned about the increasing use of AI in daily life. This compares with 38% who are more concerned than excited, and 46% are concerned and excited.
AI and your job
Knowledge is the key here, because it is easy to fear what you don’t understand, with unease over AI feeding into concerns about work.
Americans worry that robots are coming for their jobs, and in fact, according to YouGov’s survey, 15% are very concerned that AI will cause the end of the human race on Earth.
So, is this justified?
Whether or not your role or sector is vulnerable will come down to the type of work you do. Those in customer support roles may be at risk, for example. Amazon employees who tested ChatGPT found that it does a “very good job” of answering customer support questions.
It may also have implications for entry-level coding positions. Google has found that in tests, ChatGPT would be hired for its L3 positions, which usually apply to new college graduates or those in their first coding job.
And those in entry-level IT services and data-center operations may be vulnerable too. This is because of the potential AI has to automate these types of roles.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs say that legal workers and administrative staff are at risk from generative AI technology. Bookkeeping or accounts roles are likely to be replaced too, as software can do many of these tasks.
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And in a more general sense, manufacturing workers are likely to be replaced in their millions, as their jobs are replaced with smart machinery that does the same tasks, but faster.
Where the tech industry leads, other industries tend to follow. It is prioritizing a shift towards AI, which means that if you don’t have any AI skills on your resume, you may be at a disadvantage in the future.
This can be seen as an opportunity for workers who do want to upskill. Not only does jobs platform Indeed report that average salary potential for generative AI skills is $174,727, but these jobs are in huge demand due to a widespread skills deficit.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have found that AI job listings overall are up 42% following the public release of ChatGPT in late 2022, with many of these jobs (12.65%) proliferating in the Washington D.C. area.
When it comes to the kinds of capabilities companies are looking for, these can include AI trainers and prompt engineers, machine learning engineers, data scientists, among others. Depending on your role, being proficient in use of relevant AI tools can stand to you as well. For those who remain fearful of the future, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has positive news, estimating that 97 million new jobs will emerge by 2025 to enable humans and machines to work together.
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