How AI Will Transform Career Progression

Death-knell for the old and harbinger of the new! We discuss 3 ways AI will change how the global workforce views itself, making learning a business imperative

The future is right here, right now – limitless possibilities and giant leaps in technological progression is today, a way of life for the modern business professional. Who would have ever imagined that self-driving cars and robots with near-human personalities would aid the implementation of everyday tasks, making productivity, reach all-new heights!

At the core of this revolution, is Artificial Intelligence. From video games to personal assistants, from smart cars to smartphones, look around, and you will find the touch of AI, everywhere.

This has not only made our lives easier, it has also helped personalize delivery as per specific, individual requirements. In fact, experts opine that AI is on the verge of superseding human intellect by gradually gathering reasoning faculties, discovering meaning, insights, sensibilities, generalizations, and experiential learning.

The entire scope of what AI can do, is of course, a topic up for discussion; however, if you think about it, the understanding of human speech patterns (like Staywell’s voice recognition software) the ability to action strategic gaming systems, military simulations, the invention of autonomous cars, and the ability to rapidly analyze complex data are all the impact areas of AI.

Can AI have an impact on job markets? Will it assist the modern recruiter and the millennial job seeker? Let’s explore these incredible scenarios.

Only the strategic: the death of redundant, iterative, and outmoded roles

A typically dystopian reading of the rise of AI speaks of cold and unfamiliar worlds, where robots have taken over, from almost half of the global workforce. This may carry certain genuine worrying signals – that said, it underlines the transformation pivot which AI can unlock.

What AI will create, is a new world that’s smarter, more focused, and comprising monotony-free individuals. Simply put, the sharpest brains will work on the finest projects, removing hitherto exhausting and convoluted tasks. Emerging skillsets and refreshed expertise will help drive this wave of enriched and revitalized professionals.

Chasing the unknown – unfamiliar terrain and the bounty of risk

Remember, from the French Revolution to the Industrial Revolution, any giant change brings great risks, and great rewards. As AI will sweep through workspaces, old forms of employment will cease to matter. Areas such as cybersecurity, cloud, big data, or machine learning, will find new expression and intelligent implementation, absorbing the global job market.

For IT professionals, particularly, this is a great time to look at chasing that exciting ‘bend down the roads’. Advance trainings will become a must-have for any workplace, keeping employees abreast of emerging trends and notions. This makes tools such as Inspired eLearning particularly relevant, going beyond the ambit of day-on-day tasks and exploring new areas in learning & development.

For other sectors, AI will shrink timelines and costs, propel margins, bring higher wages for the most deserving employees, ushering in an era where productivity truly matches profitability.

The cyclical nature of energy: as one falls, the other is created

Historically, progression has witnessed the closing of one model, only to birth the other. Even as AI and automation might kill a certain number of jobs, it will create a paradigmatic shift in the nature of work. For the pessimist, this is apocalyptic; for businesses eager to pioneer transformation, these are only new opportunities.

A new world economic order will be built on the foundations of this brave new technology. What’s important is to consistently maintain human understanding, assessment, and foresight, to bring real value to both businesses and lives – by harnessing the almost-magical power of AI. Apart from a continuous focus on upskilling, what this also means, is a fast-shortening skills lifecycle. Employees who understand this, and replenish their knowledge repositories either at work or during downtimes, stand to win.

These are, then three areas where AI could alter career pathways.

Professional growth, promotions, hikes in pay, learning & development, self-assessment and upskilling, will all witness a change of gears. Senior leadership will have to look at refreshed business goals and targets, for the manager, the team lead or the employee. New learnings, every so often, will become the new normal, making L&D as well as soft-skills training, a staple at any and every scale.

Learn More: 

A Career in Learning and Development: 10 Must-Have Skills to Make It Big in 2020

(WorkingVoice is doing some exciting work in this direction. You can read more about why soft-skills are vital in the AI era, here.)

Mikhail Naumov, Co-founder of AI-backed customer service solutions, looks at these ‘human’ impacts: “As AI continues to eliminate many of the simple and mundane tasks, employees can focus more of their time developing the human skill set that sets them apart in the job market. While technical skills will always be valuable, monetizing traits like compassion, communication, and creativity are becoming more valued.”

In this reimagined & fast paced emerging job market, these are clearly positives, making the best available talent always ready for ascension, self-awareness, and proactive upward movement. Progression now will now not be dependent on any discriminating factors, but only on qualitative capability and the zeal to reinvent oneself.