Change is coming: how might AI affect you?

It currently feels like there’s a new update in the world of artificial intelligence (AI) every week. The technology, once something the average Joe could only expect to hear about in science-fiction films, is gaining momentum at rapid pace, and instead of being a far-flung concept only understood or used by computing geniuses, it’s now making its way onto our laptops, tablets and mobile phones.

But unless you’re in the tech industry, it might still feel like an abstract topic. Murmurs on the street include things like, “why is it all over the media?” and “I doubt it’ll affect me, to be honest”, showing a real disconnect between the general population and AI – which actually stands to make up a large pillar of the fourth industrial revolution. To put it bluntly, it will – quite literally – transform society as we know it.

However, unlike the previous industrial revolutions – which comparatively took hold at a relatively slow place – this one is happening right now, and it’s taking hold fast. So, what is it exactly? Why should you care? And why are we talking about it? Read on to find out.

The fourth industrial revolution

According to the UK government , “Technological breakthroughs in areas from artificial intelligence to biotechnologies are now heralding a Fourth Industrial Revolution, with the power to reshape almost every sector in every country.” It started with the internet, and encompasses the fast transformation of technologies, robotics, virtual reality (VR) and AI, plus many other disruptors.

AI has dramatically transformed over the past few years, and is now readily accessible by the general public. One example of this is OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a programme that can do – almost – whatever you want it to, from coding a computer and building a website to writing poetry and passing a law exam with flying colours.

This technology itself isn’t new: ELIZA was invented back in the 1960s, for example, but what has made it so transformative is how suddenly the latest iteration is available at the fingertips of the average person in the street. Up until now, most people couldn't access AI, but ChatGPT is right there in your pocket.

Impacts to the workforce

When I started my career in the 1980s, I remember there being a room full of typists who did nothing other than type. Of course, when the word processor came in, we did unfortunately lose some of the typists, but not all of them. Those who were able to broaden their roles, skills and capabilities were able to hold on to their careers and actually expand them to become much more fulfilling.

One could argue that ChatGPT, and similar programmes, might have a similar impact. When we asked “Are you worried that ChatGPT could make your role redundant?” in a recent LinkedIn poll , 64% of respondents said “no”. Of course, it’s too early to tell if the onset of this technology will cause redundancies, but the chances are that there will be some people out there whose jobs will be impacted if they don’t change. So, people need to ensure that they upskill, keep on top of the technology and be willing to develop their existing capabilities to help future-proof their careers.

It's not all doom and gloom: the reality is that when an organisation introduces a form of automation, we generally see that there’s actually a net increase in jobs within that workplace, partly because there are people required to run the automation and because productivity increases – which leads to growth, and therefore an expansion of the workforce.

A solution to the problems in the labour market

It’s not news that there are issues in the workforce, industry-wide, at the moment. Firstly, the labour market is shrinking, as proportionately, we are growing older, and after Covid, many have been removed from the workforce, such as retiring early or becoming long term sick. Secondly, according to the Hays Salary and Recruiting Trends Guide for 2023, 93% of employers say they’ve faced skills shortages in both permanent and temporary professionals. The need for technological skills is increasing far more quickly than we can supply it, so the skills gap is getting bigger. Automation, ironically, is one answer to that.

Change is coming, whether we’re ready to accept it or not. In fact, it’s already here. We can expect AI to start to infiltrate more types of organisations over the coming years, changing workplaces and roles as we know them, but change isn’t always a bad thing.

If you want to know more about future-proofing your career, speak with one of our Hays consultants today – we can advise you on how to widen your skillset, explore opportunities you may not have previously considered, and even discuss potential roles down the line, which may not have even been invented yet.