These days, Artificial Intelligence feels like that young, strapping new hire poised to replace the old guard at the workplace. But it also feels like every time the world gets to invent something new, it also learns to work with it.
Fear not. We found three reasons why AI won’t take our jobs.
AI works best with data given by real people
AI systems, including those based on machine learning and natural language processing, rely on data to learn and make decisions. Human input is crucial for the development, training, and the operation of AI systems.
AI models, especially machine learning models, require large datasets to learn from. Humans collect, clean, and label the training data used to train these models.
Moreover, humans, including AI researchers and engineers, are responsible for designing and developing the algorithms and models that underpin AI systems. These algorithms are created based on human insights and expertise.
AI was made to “lift the weight of work” and help humans delegate effort in areas where it is more needed.
Most workplaces require employees to render seven to eight hours of shifts. Microsoft’s Work Trend Index Report released in May 2023 found that employees have found alliance with AI in completing tasks.
From its report, it was known that three in four people are “comfortable” with using AI for administrative tasks, analytical work, and other aspects of their work that require creativity.
While there is still estrangement toward the use of AI in the workplace, Microsoft reported that people are optimistic about its usage in lessening workload.
For one, the advent of email, instant messaging, and social media has dramatically increased the volume of written communication people receive daily. Sorting through and responding to this influx of messages can be time-consuming and counter-productive.
From the same report, it was found that business leaders are more likely to choose increasing employee productivity rather than opting to lay off people.
The survey showed that employees and managers are more optimistic about how work could change by 2030. 33% of the people imagined producing more “high-quality work,” 26% want to find more valuable ways to use their time, and 23% want to never have to mentally take in “unnecessary” information.
AI was made to enhance human competence and not to compete with it.
AI-powered tools, like Grammarly and Pictory AI, are widely used by students and professionals alike. As established earlier, it can only work with the data they receive. Human abilities are far more expansive than what AI can do.
Humans have the ability to judge, anticipate, and imagine—and adjust all of these depending on the situation.
However, with AI technologies becoming increasingly integrated into society and industry, there will definitely be the need for employees to learn new skills.
In the same Microsoft report, leaders have found that analytical judgment, flexibility, and emotional intelligence are among the skills that employees need to enhance if the future ushers in new AI technology.
What now?
It’s true, new things are scary. However, humans have the capacity to learn and work with new things, especially when it has the potential to generally make their lives better and easier.
Is AI going to put humans out of their jobs soon? That is unlikely. If anything, it will transform jobs and produce more job opportunities if allowed.