Until recently, it was believed that automating human intellectual abilities was impossible. However, modern developments in artificial intelligence are challenging this notion.
Today, we are witnessing how many tasks once considered non-automatable are being successfully performed by computers. For instance, neural networks can now generate realistic images, write academic theses, produce software code, analyze medical research results, and design formulas for both medicines and toxic substances.
A landmark event for AI development occurred several years ago with the creation of AlphaGo, a program that defeated world Go champion Lee Sedol. This program and its subsequent modifications utilized “reinforcement learning,” where the computer learned the game independently, without human intervention. After just 3 hours of training, it reached a beginner’s level, and within 70 hours, it surpassed human capabilities. The AlphaGo case is a clear example of cognitive labor automation. It demonstrated that a computer is not only capable of performing intellectual operations at a human level but can also exceed it.
There are already numerous examples where the implementation of AI-based technologies has led or will soon lead to a reduction in overall job numbers. This includes civil servants in the UK, warehouse workers at Amazon, and many other cases across diverse fields.
In this context, international organizations generally offer sobering forecasts regarding job displacement due to AI adoption. IMF analysts assert that AI could affect up to 40% of jobs globally, exacerbating inequality. In 2023, Goldman Sachs experts stated that AI could replace around 300 million jobs. Research by the McKinsey Global Institute indicates that by 2030, at least 14% of workers worldwide may need to switch careers due to advancements in digitalization, robotics, and AI. According to PwC estimates, up to 30% of jobs could be automated by the mid-2030s.
It is projected that by 2030, approximately 70% of companies will be using AI-based technological solutions. Examples of successful AI application already exist in the financial sector, such as for risk assessment and fraud detection. Furthermore, up to 80% of inquiries in banking and telecom sectors are already handled by AI assistants. In the legal field, AI is used to accelerate document processing. The role of translators is also evolving, where AI will handle the draft work, and humans will take on the role of editors.
AI technologies with lifelike speech synthesis make virtual voice assistants nearly indistinguishable from live operators. The use of neural network-based speech technologies increases the speed and quality of query processing while reducing contact center staffing costs.
What awaits the labor market with the development and spread of AI technologies?
Despite negative predictions, the current trend toward automation does not, on the whole, deprive people of work. It primarily impacts the “middle” of the professional landscape. This encroachment on the labor sphere has a dual nature: on one hand, automation poses a greater threat to routine skills than to the outcomes of long-term professional experience; on the other, it replaces a significant portion of automatable routine actions within individual professions. As a result, for some specialties, there is a tangible risk of being reduced to peripheral functions.
If a profession involves human interaction, that interaction becomes the domain of human expertise. If a profession requires high qualifications, a significant volume of the routine tasks it’s built upon gradually begins to be performed by AI-based technologies. It turns out we are living in an era of “invisible” automation. While we focus on the socially visible aspects of professional activity, machines are acquiring the skills needed to perform the invisible routine operations that form the foundation of any profession.
It may seem that current automation poses no threat to employment, as machines are not replacing people but only taking over some of the most tedious and routine elements of professional work. However, its consequences could be even more serious precisely because it is imperceptible.
From the labor market’s perspective, automation necessitates a rethinking of the very concept of “professional activity.” Since only a minority operate at a mastery level, for the majority of the workforce, modern automation could become a serious blow. If AI takes over routine work tasks, the remaining social aspects of a profession cannot, by themselves, embody the qualities claimed by the human worker. Modern employees need to master new professional competencies to retain their jobs.
According to expert estimates, AI is less likely to impact professions such as:
– Teachers
– Lawyers and Judges
– Directors, Managers, and CEOs
– HR Managers
– Psychologists and Psychiatrists
– Computer Systems Analysts
– Artists and Writers
For individuals to remain competitive, it is crucial to:
– Engage in continuous learning
– Develop communication skills
– Be adaptable
– Specialize
In the era of AI, companies should take several important steps:
– Invest in continuous team training.
Foster a culture of lifelong learning so your employees can develop the skills needed to work with new technologies. This includes participation in online courses, webinars, and workshops on relevant topics like AI and data analytics.
– Implement automation.
Adopting automation and AI tools can significantly boost operational efficiency and improve the customer experience. This allows your team to focus on strategic tasks and data analysis rather than routine work.
– Develop talent strategically.
Ensure employee skill development aligns with your company’s goals. This creates an environment where talent can grow and thrive, which is crucial for success in a rapidly changing market.
– Foster innovation.
Encourage employees to develop new ideas and solutions. Create workspaces for discussing and developing innovative projects that can improve business processes and increase company efficiency.
We are on the verge of transforming the labor market. It is important to understand that professions will not disappear; they will evolve, as new specialists will be needed to work with AI technologies. Professionals will always be in demand. Problems will begin for those unwilling to adapt and develop.
