Will AI Take Your Job? | June Newsletter from SoftEd

Leadership Insight from David Mantica:

Will AI Take Your Job?

In October 2023, we held our first conference on Generative AI for Project Professionals. Prior to that, we began producing content like webinars and LinkedIn Live sessions in February 2023. Over the past year, we’ve immersed ourselves in the GenAI space and learned an incredible amount.

During this time, we’ve developed and marketed four “role-based” GenAI courses, targeting project management, business analysis, software testing, and learning and development. All are currently selling well. We’re also preparing to launch a fifth course, the Purpose-Built GPT and AI Agents Workshop, designed for any knowledge worker. Based on our research, soon running GPTs and AI Agents will be as essential as using the Internet is today.

So, what have we discovered so far?

• GenAI is being adopted in companies similarly to how SharePoint and AWS were—outside of IT departments and tailored to specific functions.
• GenAI can boost productivity, but only if employees are proficient in their tasks, skilled in using GenAI tools, and have clear objectives for their use.
• Comprehensive operating procedures and flexible governance policies are not imminent; larger companies tend to have more apprehensions.
• The real challenge with GenAI lies in its energy consumption, not bias or copyright issues.
• We’re still in the early stages, and the evolution of GenAI in business will be rapid, much like the Internet’s development, but at a much faster pace.
• Human-centered skills are crucial for the effective integration of GenAI, meaning its productivity-enhancing use.

Returning to the question, “Will AI Take Your Job?” The answer, based on our findings, is that AI will take over jobs as they are currently performed. It will automate them swiftly and thoroughly. This might sound harsh, but it’s true. However, the key phrase is “as your job is performed now.”

Much like the Internet, many job categories will disappear, especially higher-paying professional roles. The legal field will see significant changes, as will entertainment in both creation and consumption. Once copyright issues are resolved (which they will be), coding will become a part of many professional roles. Marketing will undergo a drastic transformation in both content creation and paid search, potentially leading to a world of paid GenAI.

However, just like the Internet, AI will create entirely new job categories and functions. Consider Outlier (https://outlier.ai/ ). AI will need educators, coders, auditors, deployers, managers, and support staff. Professionals will require training on its capabilities and applications (as seen in our new courses and conference). The resurgence of data centers could bring a demand for experts in power management and options, as energy consumption will be a major issue.

Regarding the phrase “as your job is performed now,” many professional roles such as accounting, HR, L&D, project management, and business analysis will remain, but the nature of the work will change significantly. The focus will shift from specific professional tasks to interpersonal skills. These roles will need to become more human-centric, emphasizing communication and value. We envision a future where these positions operate under the mantra “the status quo is an invisible killer.”

There is much to consider. Companies and individuals cannot afford to be passive. The pace of change is so rapid that a culture of testing and learning must be embedded in both organizational and individual practices. We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Upcoming Free Webinars (Earn 1 PDU/CDU):

Data-Driven Transformation: Essential Insights for Business Analysts Zoom Webinar June 5th 1:00PM EDT with Chris Knotts

Managing Work-in-Process: Strategies to Boost Team Productivity Zoom Webinar June 19th 1:00PM EDT with Chris Knotts

Free On-Demand Trainings Recently Recorded:

Navigating the 'Fuzzy Front End': Enhancing Agile Project Life Cycles Page with Chris Knotts

Fundamentals of AI for Business Analysis with Marc Balcer

Becoming a Skills-Based Organization: The value of Capability Frameworks and Skills Assessments to build a Future-Fit Workforce with Michelle Ruddenklau and Josh Williams

June Courses:

Agile and DevOps courses are Buy One, Get One Free through July! Courses with asterisk (*) qualify. Buy one seat for yourself and bring a friend for free! Use the coupon code BOGO2024 at checkout.

Agile Fundamentals* June 11 - 13

Certified ScrumMaster June 13 - 14

Certified Scrum Product Owner June 17 - 18

Certified ScrumMaster June 24 - 25

AI for Project Management June 24 - 26

Agile Project Management* June 24 - 26

Agile Coaching* June 24 - 28

Agile Product Ownership* June 25 - 27

Agile Team Facilitation* June 25 - 27

Delivery At Scale* June 25 - 28