AI and the myth of competition
Collective pessimism is a driver of social media engagement, and anything associated with its overarching themes have a higher click rate. One topic that pessimism has a popular algorithmic pairing within the tech space is Artificial Intelligence, and how it competes for space within an already crowded employment market.
Concerns about AI superseding humans are expected. However, leaning into competition and learning from it is often the best way to make it less competitive. Whether for or against, AI is our current transformation zeitgeist and like all things that come and go, it will do its rounds and make us better, or worse depending on how we apply it.
Doubts drive us to shun AI but there is much to glean from its popularity when viewed as an educational opportunity, or as an assistant to our workplace. Case in point, AI and Machine Learning becoming productivity drivers in Finance Automation, Consumer Psychology, and Data Analytics since 2020. We have seen AI necessitate its use during the pandemic when we needed to take productivity online. It became our artificial buffer to sustain important parts of the economy reaching collapse due to record-breaking layoffs, work displacement, and staff attrition. However, technology is constantly evolving, and now, in post-pandemic times, we are seeing the next stage of its evolution in the form of AI Automation.
What needs to be considered is that humans are still the recipient of what AI automates, and so there will always be a level of human agency and human control that AI cannot initiate regardless of how advanced it becomes. This is where Dataline’s “Human-led” Artificial Intelligence becomes important. We leverage AI technology for all its benefits whilst programming its controls in our position of authority. An example is how we use Human-led Artificial Intelligence in our Accounts Payable Automation solution where an AI Bureau is responsible for capturing data that AI could not. We also apply the same design principle in our Bank Allocation Bot, whereby the bot completes the mundane activity to allow its users to attend matters requiring human intervention.
The move to necessitate AI at work is not a perfect transition where nobody is left behind, but we can rest assured in the logic that as technology moves, so will we, because human-led autonomy over technology is a way for us to become part of the work, its processes, and its implementation. We stay relevant as long as we make ourselves part of an innovation’s lifespan.
Whilst it’s good to have this vote of confidence, it is also smart to prepare for what might come. We have seen reports of aggressive layoffs in the tech industry, and this is because developers are the proponents of technology’s advancements. People in tech are the first ones that cannibalise their roles in the workforce because of the very nature of their work—upgrading technology. They inevitably replace themselves in the pursuit of making “work” work with less humans. This is why the tech job market, most prominently in Silicon Valley, has seen both an exit of talent and an onboarding of growth based on disruption and newly created job opportunities like AI Research, AI Product Management, and Cybersecurity. The same unprecedented transformation will happen across industries affecting our roles.
Furthermore, experts are speculating that AI sentience can be achieved in the next 10 to 30 years. This is of note because AI sentience is an AI system that exhibits complete human-like consciousness, and the leadup to its eventuality is a huge undertaking that will require sacrifices both human and capital.
A good takeaway from this is how we can upskill for a job market that has growing ties with Artificial Intelligence. Becoming part of the AI discourse is easy once we understand the language. Ways to do this could be as simple as learning code-free integrations of AI in SaaS or “software as a service” web applications like HubSpot and Zapier. Both operate in a language that use the same building blocks of AI development. The way data and algorithms are structured in these web apps equip us with foresight about AI, should the same disciplines become part of our current and future jobs.
In the leadup to AI being introduced to our workplaces, here are a few smart ways to hopefully “outsmart” Artificial Intelligence:
1. Preparation keeps us from desperation. Future decisions are made in the present, and based on its current trajectory, AI has the potential to leave us feeling desperate. It is developing at a rapid rate and whilst we may not be mechanically capable of matching its speed, we can surely take steps that add up if paired with patience, practice, and time; patience in researching AI, practice in using AI, and the time required to understand AI.
2. Upskill and specialise. Preparation soothes desperation and is a gateway to specialisation. We can avoid being compared to mobile phones that are phased out at the end of their yearly trend lifecycles by learning AI technology. There are courses and workshops that are AI-adjacent to skills we already possess. They may even offer pathways to other work opportunities we could be interested in and may even be great at! However, most organised training programs are pricy, and if strapped for cash, maybe start small—begin by learning AI on YouTube. Information at the palm of your hands!
3. You like money? Wear a suit. LinkedIn is the most widely-used business and employment-focused social media platform, according to Google, and we believe them. Most of us reading this have LinkedIn to thank for our jobs so a professional online identity is required. Having a well-followed Facebook and Instagram profile is “admirable,” but it is not “profitable” unless you pull revenue as an influencer. If your livelihood depends on more traditional means of employment, then you should consider a professional LinkedIn bio. Edit your LinkedIn profile to reflect relevant keywords and positions within the industries you belong in or wish to become part of and remember to “professionalise” using AI-adjacent keywords from certifications or paid training as advised in this list’s #2.
4. Thank you for listening to my TED talk. Discover key players and thought leaders in the AI ecosystem and engage with their content by listening and doing research. The adage “vision drives decisions” rings true, and the more we are aligned with key players in the industry, the better equipped we will be once transformative and irreversible decisions are made in the industries that are expected to look to and take after Artificial Intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence is not sentient intelligence, or at least not yet. Our human intelligence, however, benefits from Emotional Intelligence, and that is what AI needs to reach sentience. The more human-like Artificial Intelligence wants to become, the better we should be at outsmarting it. AI’s trajectory is dictated by our participation, so it is up to us to direct its course. Learn about AI today and be part of designing–and deciding–our future with human-led Artificial Intelligence.
At Dataline, we take pride in the adaptable nature of our solutions. Our human-led approach to AI Automation keeps pace with you and your business. We continuously explore new ways to advance our solutions to ensure the ongoing success of our customers. Our commitment to AI automation technology underscores our dedication to delivering the best possible solutions for your data, invoicing, and finance automation needs.
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