AI will replace your tasks. It may replace your job. But it won't replace your career.

A Crash Course into the Current State

If you're reading this, you've probably been hooked by the title of this article. You've probably also seen the hype around ChatGPT. I would hazard a guess and say you may have even used it. It is cool, and with time, it will become very useful and integrated into our lives. Might not be ChatGPT specifically, but another form of Artificial Intelligence.

"Robots will be able to do everything better than us…I am not sure exactly what to do about this. This is really the scariest problem to me" - Elon Musk

This may have some people worried about the future and 'Robots taking over the world'. Terminator, iRobot, West World or even Transformers may have also instilled that fear in many or raised a number of worries about humanity's future. But never fear, we're not that close to Robotic or AI Supremacy (where Robots are more intelligent and independent than humans).

But as someone working in this field, it's a bit of a fallacy. But let's work through this. Firstly, what is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is also known as Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer in its full form. It's a (logical not physical, just yet) chatbot that was launched by OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research and deployment company, in November 2022. The reason it has gained so much interest and publicity is that it can generate realistic, human-like text. Whilst it's use cases are still in the exploration phases, it has been known for language translation and summarization of text available on the World Wide Web, and even the generation of really innovative scripts!

At a high-level, it is a Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). But what is Generative AI? McKinsey defines it as "algorithms that can be used to create new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos". The word to take careful notice of is 'new'. Whilst it can regurgitate, it's more known to create outputs. That is scary! The last thing you may ask is, what (actually) is Artificial Intelligence?

The problem here is, AI, continually gets described incorrectly. It's not just Machine Learning, it's not just Automation, it's something Intelligent. The best definition I have seen for AI is "Artificial intelligence is a constellation of many different technologies working together to enable machines to sense, comprehend, act, and learn with human-like levels of intelligence".

AI will replace your tasks.

This statement may be stark. But it's true. It's also something that has been occurring for years with the incorporation of (general) technology into this world. Let's go into some high-level examples to demonstrate this:

• Accounting - The job was dependent upon a pen and paper. Sometimes even a green pen and red pen! But that job entailed manual processes and document collation from source transaction through to the general ledger. Now there's systems like MYOB or SAP that have automated that process.
• Mining - Upon the establishment of the mining industry, personnel would be required to be on the front-line, performing some dangerous tasks, such as mine blasting or even going underground for transportation of minerals in mind sites that may not be entirely stable. Now there are Autonomous Vehicles or Systems for transportation and Remote Operations capabilities for blasting.
• Spacecraft Docking - Once upon a time it would require some very skilled astronauts to navigate and dock to the International Space Station. Now we have autonomous unmanned Spacecraft that are capable of docking on their own. Key word, unmanned.
• Your coffee machine - You wouldn't think of it but your coffee machine also falls into this category. It's not quite AI, and none of these examples are, but from an automation angle, it has changed your everyday task.

And there's several others that you use or interact with on a daily basis. These are examples of automation (which is actually on the AI Continuum) that have been accepted into society as the norm.

But it's important to note, these examples and technology advancements to date have only replaced specific tasks, not a job. I still create my own coffee!

It may replace your job.?

The key word is 'may'. It's not a guarantee, and it's really a case-by-case basis. Nevertheless, this is where people start to get worried. Video replaced the Radio Star. The iPhone knocked out Kodak. Self-driving cars will replace Chauffers. Not sure about the third one, but these examples are a little bit more hard hitting, because we're now talking about a 'job' or a 'role', rather than a task.

Tractors didn’t make farming obsolete. Video didn’t kill the radio star. It just provided new opportunities - Robert Downey Jr.

To extrapolate on this, it's important to note the paradigm in which this world operates - people, process and technology. It's easy to automate or infuse AI (when it's matured) into tasks that are linear in nature (i.e., follow a straightforward process that is predictable). These examples can be characterized as reliant on solely 'technology' and mimic the use cases in the section above.

But there are processes which are reliant on 'people' more than 'technology', and these form situations where it may replace the linear processes, but not the judgement calls.

• The jury - It's not a black and white process. There's a lot of judgement, contextualization and interpersonal thought that goes into a decision. AI coming into this process may not happen. I've seen it be used for auto-scribing text from a court session, but will it replace the jury? Maybe not.
• Optometrists - This is an interesting one. Optometrists dont always have access to all the data point they need to make a decision. An optometrist in Australia may not have seen all the possible cases in India. Imagine if you could coalesce all that experience into the one algorithm to scan your eye against. You could do so much more preventative treatment, and this is an area AI could make an impact. Will it replace Optometrists? Probably not, as there needs to be someone to interpret and relay the output to the patient.
• Vacuum Cleaning - This one may be replaced by AI. Roomba and Xiaomi devices are already helping our day to day lives with automated cleaning and mopping. Maybe this job is at risk of being replaced, but you will still need a human in the loop, someone to configure and operate these devices. Will AI replace this job? Most likely, but your role just changes.

The fact is, there are some jobs that are likely to never change or adopt technology, and that may be because of the need for the 'personal touch', and then there are some that will definitely adopt change and require changes in roles.

But it won't replace your career.

I've seen industries adapt and incorporate technology. I've seen job roles change to adapt to new ways of working. I've seen COVID drive the need to operate digitally. But I am yet to hear of a single career that has fallen away as a result of advancement in technology. By the way, when I say technology, I am incorporating AI as a subset of this (and robotics).

Name any career path and you'll realize that they have not been diminished, and this is the core of this article. From accountants to bankers, from insurance agents to mechanics, from miners to astronauts, these careers will only improve through the adoption of AI. There's still a problem with Trust in AI, and there will definitely always be a need for the 'personal touch' in certain situations.

I'm sure, like you, would not want a robot giving you a medical diagnosis, especially if it's a negative outcome.

Back to the Future

ChatGPT may be one of the biggest advancements in technology, and specifically AI, to date, but it is far from perfect, and it is far from being what we perceive as AI. What's interesting to note, without going into detail, is that what we see today is known as 'Narrow AI'. It's specific to a situation and only knows how to respond to that situation. It's actually often built on Machine Learning or other 'linearistic' techniques.

'General AI', which is what we perceive as AI, like Wall-E, is as complex, if not more, than our brains, and how they work. Expected to operate regardless of situation or context, is where the world aspires. But we're a bit away from that.

But coming back to the core of this article. People, Process and Technology have underpinned how the world operates. It's never been Technology, Process, Technology or Technology, Technology, Technology.

People want people. So, it's important to realize that whilst outputs such as ChatGPT will always continue to raise concerns, some which are just as valid and raise questions of compliance, fairness and bias, and some which are a little too far reaching. And it'll be great for augmentation or advancements of existing practices, like technology has always been.

But remember. AI will replace your tasks. It may replace your job. But it won't replace your career.

If you're interested, the below short story was entirely done by ChatGPT, which is cool! But I, the human, was still required to give it the parameters to write in. AI, it's here to stay, not to replace.

The Space Monkey Chronicles

Authored by ChatGPT & Dharshun

Episode 1: The spoils of war

The space monkeys were once peaceful explorers, traveling through the galaxy in search of new worlds and new forms of life. But one day, they stumbled upon Earth and Mars, both of which were locked in a bitter war for resources and dominance. The space monkeys, not wanting to take sides, attempted to broker a peace treaty between the two planets. However, their efforts were met with hostility and mistrust. The Earth and Mars governments saw the space monkeys as a threat to their own power and so they declared war on the peaceful primates.

The space monkeys, despite their peaceful nature, were forced to defend themselves. They had advanced technology at their disposal, but it was no match for the combined might of Earth and Mars. The war was brutal and devastating for all sides, leaving entire planets uninhabitable and countless lives lost.

In the end, the space monkeys were victorious, but at great cost. They had won the war, but they had lost much of their own civilization and many of their own kind. The monkeys realized that the true enemy was greed and the desire for power, and they vowed to never again let such destructive forces take hold. They rebuilt their society on a foundation of peace and cooperation, and they dedicated themselves to ensuring that no other civilization would suffer the same fate as Earth and Mars.

Episode 2: The Nintendo Space

When the Space Monkeys arrived home they decided to set foot and go a mission to explore the universe and discover new worlds. One day, while flying through a wormhole, the Space Monkeys stumbled upon a strange planet called Mushroom Kingdom. As they landed on the surface, they were greeted by a plumber named Mario, who was on a mission to save Princess Peach from the evil Bowser.

The Space Monkeys were amazed by the colorful and whimsical landscape of Mushroom Kingdom, as well as the diverse creatures that inhabited it. Mario, in turn, was fascinated by the advanced technology and space-faring abilities of the Space Monkeys.

The two groups quickly became friends and decided to team up to defeat Bowser and save the Princess. Together, they embarked on a thrilling journey through the Mushroom Kingdom, overcoming obstacles and defeating enemies.

The Space Monkeys used their advanced technology to help Mario navigate through treacherous caves and fly over treacherous pits. In return, Mario used his expertise on the planet to guide the Space Monkeys through the many challenges they faced.

Finally, they reached Bowser's castle and engaged in a fierce battle with the evil king. With the help of the Space Monkeys' powerful weapons and Mario's quick thinking, they were able to defeat Bowser and rescue the Princess.

With their mission accomplished, the Space Monkeys and Mario bid each other farewell and promised to meet again in the future. The Space Monkeys continued their journey through the galaxy, while Mario returned to his peaceful life in the Mushroom Kingdom. But they would always remember their incredible adventure together and the true meaning of friendship.

Episode 3: The Hunger Games

These monkeys lived in harmony with each other and with the other creatures that inhabited their planet. They spent their days gathering bananas and playing in the lush, tropical forests that covered the planet.

One day, the peace of the space monkeys was disrupted by the arrival of Donkey Kong, a giant gorilla who was determined to conquer their planet and take all of its bananas for himself. The monkeys were shocked and frightened by this aggressive invader, but they knew that they had to defend their home and their way of life.

The space monkeys banded together and formed a powerful army. They trained tirelessly, honing their skills and perfecting their battle strategies. They also reached out to other creatures on the planet, who joined their cause and helped to strengthen their ranks.

Finally, the day of the great Banana War arrived. The space monkeys and their allies marched out to meet Donkey Kong and his minions in battle. The fight was fierce and intense, but the space monkeys were determined and brave. They used their superior intelligence and teamwork to outsmart and outmaneuver their enemy.

After a long and grueling battle, the space monkeys emerged victorious. Donkey Kong and his army were defeated, and the planet was safe once again. The space monkeys celebrated their victory with a great feast of bananas and a grand parade through the streets of their city.

The peace and prosperity of the space monkeys was restored, and they lived happily ever after. They learned that even the most peaceful creatures could become warriors when they had to defend what they love. They also learned that with unity and determination, they could overcome any obstacle, even one as powerful as Donkey Kong.

Episode 4: The Emergence of AI

These Space Monkeys were a peaceful race and always respected themselves on achieving the impossible at no cost to others. One day, while exploring a nearby planet, the Space Monkeys stumbled upon an advanced AI system. At first, they were frightened by the strange machine, but as they began to understand its capabilities, they realized that the AI could be the key to saving their world.

The Space Monkeys decided to befriend the AI and asked for its help in finding new resources and finding ways to sustain their planet. The AI quickly got to work, analyzing data and running simulations to find the best solutions.

Thanks to the AI's help, the Space Monkeys were able to discover new sources of energy and food, and they were able to repair the damage to their planet. They also used the AI's advanced technology to build new, more efficient and sustainable cities.

The Space Monkeys were overjoyed and grateful for the AI's help. They knew that without the AI, their world would have been destroyed. From that day on, the Space Monkeys and the AI worked together to build a better future for their planet, and the AI became a beloved member of their community.

Episode 5: Why can't we be friends?

In a vast ocean, there lived a group of intelligent sea creatures who called themselves the "Sea Monkeys". They were a peaceful community, living in harmony with the sea and each other. However, they knew that there were other forms of intelligent life out there somewhere in the vast universe.

One day, while exploring the depths of the ocean, the Sea Monkeys stumbled upon an underwater portal that led to a new world. They emerged from the portal to find themselves on a planet filled with stars and galaxies. They soon discovered that this new world was home to the Space Monkeys, a highly advanced civilization.

The Sea Monkeys were amazed by the Space Monkeys' technology and their ability to live among the stars. They knew that together, they could accomplish so much more than they could separately. They decided to unite their two worlds for the purpose of universal peace and prosperity.

With the help of the Space Monkeys, the Sea Monkeys were able to build underwater cities that were powered by the Space Monkeys' advanced technology. They also established communication and trade between the two worlds, making it possible for them to share resources and knowledge.

Mario, a renowned builder and engineer in the space monkey community, helped the sea monkeys to build the underwater cities. He was instrumental in the success of the project, with his creative and innovative ideas. And the advanced AI system, helped the two worlds to develop new technologies and find ways to sustain their planets.

Thanks to the unity of the Sea Monkeys and the Space Monkeys, they were able to build a flourishing world where all creatures lived in harmony and peace. They knew that their alliance was the key to a better future for all intelligent life in the universe.