Lessons on AI and the Future of Work
Stone & Chalk hosted a virtual conversation between leading AI experts and work-futurists on what developments in AI mean for the world of work.
The conversation was moderated by Anne Moore, work futurist, social scientist, HR leader, CEO, and resident founder at Stone & Chalk.
Our experts who led their voice to this discussion include:
- Professor Anthony Elliott, Dean of External Engagement and Professor of Sociology at the University of South Australia as well as recent author of The Culture of AI: Everyday Life and the Digital Revolution.
- Dima Galat, Chief Computing Officer and co-founder at Gronade.
The future of work
By now, it is common knowledge that many of today’s jobs are going to be largely or entirely automated over the coming decades. These jobs range from truck drivers to solicitors.
It is estimated that this forthcoming disruption will affect almost every person in the workforce, with up to 800 million workers being forced into some kind of career transition in the coming decade.
Possible career outcomes
As Anne Moore explains, practically speaking, one or more of three things will happen to each of us in this changing landscape:
- You will need to be reskilled for your existing role.
- You will be redeployed to other roles.
- You will be exited from your organization.
Anne emphasised that you and your career are likely your biggest financial assets, and nobody will ever be as invested in your career as you are. Taking ownership of this journey is critical to adapting to the changes brought by AI.
How to embrace new opportunities
The good news, according to Dima, is that it’s increasingly easy to learn AI, programming, and other technical skills.
This is thanks to the thousands of high-quality, cheap, and easily-accessible MOOCs (massive open online courses) allowing you to pick up the basics in a matter of weeks.
Dima refers to the position of DevOps as a case study and suggests that somebody with no computer programming experience can become an expert in 6 months with a 20-hour-a-week commitment.
This opens them up to a range of engaging, skilled, and high-paying jobs.
The value of soft skills
On the other hand, Anthony suggests technological skills will not be the most important requirement for jobs of the future.
What will be more important than technological literacy will be the uniquely human “soft skills” such as social and creative skills, and emotional literacy.
These are the irreplaceably “human” qualities that form a huge part of an individual’s value-add to their organisation.
We are in a time of radical change
Though their emphases are different, Anthony and Dima both agree: there’s no turning back now; we are currently in the midst of a technological tsunami.
Here, Dima and Anthony’s insights complement each other well: Dima argues that fear is a terrible motivator and that the best thing we can all do is embrace the change, learn what the AI revolution entails, and use this knowledge to our advantage.
Anthony believes that the colossal impact that is and will be generated by developments in AI requires people to think beyond one’s own career, to the world which they want to live in, and which they want to leave for future generations.
Understanding the tsunami is certainly the best way to survive it, individually and socially. We are now faced with an incredible opportunity to be able to develop our careers and align them with creating a prosperous and sustainable future.
Find out more
You can watch the full discussion on our YouTube channel.
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