How to survive in the era of generative AI?
The development of generative AI technology has made significant progress in the past few years. Its application in various applications such as image and speech synthesis, text generation and music composition is impressive. However, along with the popular hype, many people are experiencing some anxiety as they think about the future of their jobs. The speed with which generative AI has moved from concept to business implementation leaves little doubt that these concerns are well founded.
Like any innovative technology, generative AI has the potential to impact employment in both positive and negative ways.
Positive impacts usually include:
Productivity increase. Generative AI can automate repetitive or time-consuming tasks, freeing up humans to focus on more creative or complex tasks.
Creation of new jobs and industries. Generative AI has the potential to create new industries and jobs in areas such as data labeling, model development, and AI maintenance.
Increased security. Generative AI can be used in industries such as manufacturing and transportation to improve safety by automating dangerous or physically complex tasks.
While there is no doubt that this innovation will bring growth and prosperity to the economy and society as a whole, many people may very soon feel its negative impact on their lives. And this could happen very quickly - literally within the next 3-5 years, given the rate of creative destruction that this technology brings with it.
We will witness:
Job replacements: Generative AI has the potential to replace humans in some industries, especially those such as customer service, data entry, and routine manufacturing tasks.
Skill mismatches: The development of generative AI may require workers to acquire new skills and training that are not widely available, leading to job mismatch.
Economic instability: Displacing workers with generative AI could lead to economic disruption in some industries, especially those where the workforce relies heavily on routine or low-skill tasks.
It is important to note that the impact of generative AI on employment is complex and multifaceted, and will likely vary by industry, region and level of technological development. Policies and measures, such as retraining programs and outplacement services, may be needed to mitigate the negative impact of generative AI on employment and ensure a smooth transition to a more automated workforce.
It is important to highlight that generative AI technology still has some shortcomings that may hinder its rapid and widespread penetration in some areas. Recent testing of generative AI at Bing (Microsoft) and Bard (Google) has highlighted issues that need to be addressed before the technology can be safely used widely in enterprise systems. The main disadvantages of generative AI include:
Limited understanding of context: Generative AI models are trained on large data sets and learn to generate new content by extrapolating patterns they identify in those data sets. However, they do not have a deep understanding of the context or meaning of the content they generate. This may lead to errors or inconsistencies in conclusions, especially when the content created requires a high degree of contextual or cultural sensitivity.
Bias and injustice: Generative AI models can reinforce existing biases and inequities in the data they are trained on, which can lead to negative outcomes. For example, a text generation model trained on biased news articles can generate biased vocabulary in the output. This can have significant implications for society, particularly in areas such as hiring decisions, financial lending and criminal justice.
Privacy and data security. Generative AI models require efficient training of large volumes of data, which can pose significant risks to data privacy and security. If the data used to train the model contains sensitive information, there is a risk that this information will be leaked or misused. In addition, generative AI models can be vulnerable to malicious attacks where attackers attempt to manipulate the model's output by making subtle changes to the inputs.
Energy consumption: training generative AI models can be computationally expensive, requiring large amounts of computing resources and energy. This can have a significant impact on the environment.
Lack of transparency. Generative AI models are difficult to interpret or debug, especially if they are based on deep learning algorithms. Lack of transparency can make it difficult to understand how the model makes its decisions or cause systematic errors in the output.
Lack of creativity. While generative AI models can produce impressive results, they are still limited in their ability to generate truly creative or innovative content. This is because they are ultimately based on patterns and trends identified in existing data sets rather than true creativity or inspiration.
However, we are seeing many companies and startups rapidly innovating using generative AI. This is because the benefits of using it are significant. These include time savings, increased productivity and greater consistency of results.
There is no doubt that generative AI has the potential to automate many jobs across a wide range of industries. What positions could potentially be displaced by generative AI over the next 10 years? Changes are already taking place in many areas. The following are at risk:
Data entry clerks: Generative AI can be used to automate data entry tasks such as digitizing documents and extracting information from databases.
Customer service representatives. Generative AI can be used to automate customer service tasks such as answering frequently asked questions and handling basic support requests.
Telemarketing: Generative AI can be used to automate telemarketing tasks such as making outbound calls and sending follow-up emails.
Retailers: Generative AI can be used to automate certain aspects of retail sales, such as product recommendations and inventory management.
Routine production tasks. Generative AI can be used to automate routine manufacturing tasks such as assembly line tasks and quality control checks.
Accountants and accountants: Generative AI can be used to automate certain bookkeeping and bookkeeping tasks, such as data entry and record keeping.
Writers and journalists. Generative AI can be used to create news articles and other written content, potentially reducing the need for writers and journalists.
While the impact of generative AI on these jobs won't be immediate or universal, if you work in these fields, now is the time to think about your future opportunities to make a living.
Generative AI can create new jobs and industries, as well as increase demand for certain types of jobs. Here are a few jobs that could be in demand or created through the use of generative AI:
AI Instructors: As more companies adopt generative AI, there will be a growing demand for experts who can train and optimize these models to meet specific business needs.
AI interpretation experts. As generative AI models become more complex, there will be a growing need for experts who can explain how these models work and ensure they are used ethically.
Data Markers: Generative AI relies on large amounts of data to learn and improve. Data labelers are responsible for annotating and labeling data so it can be used to train generative AI models.
Model architects. Model architects are responsible for designing and building the architecture of generative AI models to meet specific business needs.
AI Ethicists. As generative AI becomes more widespread, there will be an increasing need for experts who can ensure that these models are used ethically and responsibly.
Professionals of creative professions. While generative AI can automate certain creative tasks, it can also be used to enhance and improve the work of creative professionals such as graphic designers, filmmakers, and musicians.
Specialists in human-machine collaboration. With the advent of generative AI, there will be a growing need for professionals who can design and implement effective human-machine interactions in the workplace.
To take advantage of these opportunities, people need to take steps now to avoid the negative impact of generative AI on their employment. These steps are obvious, but require changes and additional personal development.
I hope that I was able to draw your attention to this problem.
The solutions are obvious.
Develop new skills. As generative AI automates certain tasks, it will create new opportunities for workers to adapt and develop new skills. Individuals can invest in training and education programs that focus on skills such as data analysis, programming, and AI development.
Stay up to date: It's important to stay up to date with the latest developments in generative AI and how they may impact your industry and work. This can help you anticipate changes in the job market and take proactive steps to adapt.
Be a lifelong learner. With the rapid pace of technological change, continuous learning and skill development is becoming an absolute necessity. Don't ignore the opportunities offered by online courses, seminars and other forms of learning.
Focus on people-oriented skills. While generative AI can automate certain tasks, it cannot replace the unique human skills of creativity, empathy, and communication. People should focus on developing these people-oriented skills that are likely to remain in demand in the workplace.
Get used to looking for ways to improve your skills and retrain: Employers and government programs may offer opportunities for upskilling and retraining. You should take advantage of these programs to acquire new skills and remain competitive in the job market.