The Fear of Being Obsolete (FOBO)
It's been more than a year since ChatGPT was introduced. During this time, millions of individuals have harnessed its capabilities with over a billion prompts. This powerful tool has proven invaluable for tackling intricate questions, sparking creativity, and enhancing productivity across various tasks and projects. However, the increasing use of such AI tools has sparked a significant conversation. Many are now discussing the potential for these tools to supplant human roles.
Intrigued by the buzz surrounding ChatGPT, I decided to explore what this tool was all about. As soon as I laid my eyes on it, I was amazed at how swift and accurate (at times) it was with its responses. It not only offered me unparalleled efficiency but also challenged my perception of the creative process. The task that took me at least a day or two to complete, ChatGPT finished within seconds. As a content writer, discovering ChatGPT was a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it had the potential to make my work much easier. On the other hand, it could easily render my position useless. After my first-hand experience with ChatGPT and the constant onslaught of other AI services, I started to believe that AI would replace me.
The pace at which AI tools have evolved has been an equally exciting and scary experience for many people. Alongside being a helpful tool that has solved numerous problems, it has also caused plenty of anxieties. With AI tools becoming more accessible, demanding less time and being cost-effective, many companies have started to lay off employees to restructure their workforce.
The chaos caused by corporate layoffs and with most people living paycheck to paycheck has led many to consider or seek new career paths. Like everyone else, I was caught up in this dilemma of finding a better option. Once, while we were discussing this crisis, one of my colleagues, Shahil, shared a profound opinion on this global conundrum, which left a lasting impression in my mind and changed my initial negative perception regarding generative AI.
“AI will not replace you. You’ll be replaced by someone who knows how to use AI.”
This was a sentence with many layers to it. Let’s unpack it.
AI will not replace you
ChatGPT or any other AI tool did not come into operation alone. Teams composed of many talented individuals came together to create it. For years, the amalgamation of these diverse experts fed and experimented with data to finally develop a properly functional tool. AI tools heavily rely on the input from humans. Additionally, with the limitation of running based on the fed data, AI cannot do more or make decisions independently and requires an operator to run.
The qualities that define our humanity - creativity, emotional intelligence, empathy, adaptability, wittiness, etc., cannot be replicated by an AI tool. Yes, the advanced technology in recent days has tried to work and provide results in terms of those qualities, but it falls short in capturing the essence, depth, and innate complexity inherent in these deeply human traits, leaving a void that only human experience can fill.
The genuine bond shared between humans unfolds across multifaceted layers of depth – which an AI may attempt to mimic but can never truly comprehend or replicate. So, no matter how sophisticated the technology gets, a human will always need to operate and validate it.
You’ll be replaced by someone who knows how to use AI
Whichever career path you're on or hobbies you invest your time in, there has been a point where you have doubted yourself because you came across someone better than you. The same scenario applies to this topic of discussion as well.
The availability and accessibility of AI aren't completely eradicating job titles. It's more like minimizing the amount of people required to run a company. It takes about a minimum of two people to form a department, but if the incorporation of AI can reduce the number to just one, that's beneficial, seeing it from the corporate point of view. So, a company still requires an individual who can effectively leverage AI to streamline operations, make data-driven decisions, and optimize processes.
Most companies and organizations recognize the significance of fostering a culture of continuous learning and upskilling. That's why integrating AI tools into their routine helps them achieve operational excellence, competitive advantage, and more qualities that help them stand out in the industry. So.....
How To Stay Ahead of The Curve?
The competition in the job market will hit an all-time high due to limited job listings and an overwhelming surge in applicants. Amidst all these roles and responsibilities, how can you make your skills and expertise shine? You can rely on some of the following sources to up your game in befriending AI.
Learn from Courses
With easy access to the internet and a plethora of online courses, there are multiple options you can choose from that can sharpen your skills and expertise. These courses range from introductory levels to advanced specializations, allowing you to tailor your learning journey and deepen your understanding of your chosen field.
Whether you're exploring machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, or robotics, the abundance of resources provides you with a swift route to delve into the intricacies of your domain and stay abreast of the latest advancements.
Watch Online Tutorials
If you're not into investing money into a course you're unfamiliar with, exploring videos and reading articles can help you kickstart your AI learning journey. These online tutorials often provide valuable insights, practical demonstrations, and step-by-step guidance, making complex AI concepts more accessible and easier to grasp.
Additionally, reading articles from reputable sources can supplement your understanding, offering diverse perspectives and real-world applications, thereby laying a strong foundation for your AI learning path without any financial commitment.
Moreover, the diverse array of content creators and educators in the online sphere allows you to choose resources that align with your learning style and pace. Engaging with video tutorials and articles fosters a self-paced learning environment, enabling you to pause, rewind, and revisit topics as needed. This flexibility and the wealth of available free resources present an invaluable opportunity to explore AI fundamentals and progress at your convenience.
Stay Updated with Tech News
With hundreds of new updates and features being introduced in the AI world daily, staying updated with tech news can keep you ahead in building your knowledge base. Focusing on AI developments through regular engagement with tech news platforms broadens your awareness and provides real-time insights into emerging trends, breakthroughs, and industry shifts. By staying informed, you position yourself at the forefront of the rapidly evolving AI landscape, allowing you to anticipate future directions and adapt your learning journey accordingly.
Additionally, tech news often offers in-depth analyses, expert opinions, and interviews with industry leaders, enriching your understanding of AI technologies' practical applications and implications. This proactive approach to staying updated not only enhances your theoretical knowledge but also equips you with a contextual understanding of how AI is transforming various sectors, from healthcare to finance, thereby elevating your expertise and preparing you for the multifaceted challenges and opportunities within the dynamic field of artificial intelligence.
Gain First-Hand Experience
The main and last thing to do is to get a hands-on experience with the tool of your choice. Research emerging AI tools, gather information on how to access them, and experiment with them based on your learning goals. Engaging directly with AI tools allows you to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, fostering a deeper understanding of their functionalities and capabilities.
Moreover, documenting your experiments and findings can serve as a valuable learning process, enabling you to track your progress and troubleshoot any challenges encountered along the way. Collaborating with online communities, forums, or mentors can provide additional insights and guidance as you navigate through your experimentation phase, ultimately solidifying your grasp of AI concepts and refining your skills through hands-on practice.
Conclusion
While it's true that the advent of AI will have an immense effect on the job market, it's equally true that rather than supplanting human jobs altogether, AI will change the nature of jobs. In this article, we discussed how to stay ahead of the curve and prepare ourselves for the imminent AI-dominated future and its implications.
Thank you for reading this article. Please reply with your thoughts on the advent of AI and how it will affect your job in the comment section below.