From Skynet to the Office: Embracing AI and Protecting Your Career

Author: Christina Bolden

I grew up in the era of The Terminator (1984) and with a healthy trepidation of Skynet, a fictional artificial intelligence (AI) neural network that achieved self-awareness and came to perceive humans as a threat to be eradicated. Fast forward 40 years…AI is a part of our everyday lives and lexicon. My sincerest hope is that we will learn from the lessons of films like The Terminator and The Matrix and be responsible stewards of this ever-evolving technology. In the meantime, companies worldwide are using AI and many are struggling to get it right—for themselves, their employees, and their customers.

In this article, we’ll explore how employees are experiencing AI in the workplace today and what they can do to protect their jobs and position themselves as critical team members for the workplaces of tomorrow.?

A CNBC Survey found that 72% of workers using AI at work report that it has made them more productive. Sixty percent (60%) of those same surveyed workers are concerned about AI’s impact on their jobs.?

What are employees afraid of??

AI is exciting to some and terrifying to many. Three of the biggest fears about AI are:

Job displacement

Losing your job to AI and becoming irrelevant. The truth is that AI is being used primarily to automate repetitive jobs, freeing up employees to focus their energies on higher-level strategic and creative tasks. You are less likely to lose your job to AI than to someone who knows how to use AI.

Lack of transparency

Companies often fail to clearly communicate their strategy for how AI will change employee roles. This usually leads to the perception that companies are placing profit maximization ahead of the ethical application of AI and investment in their people. Employees feel less threatened when they are part of the process of thinking about the use of AI.

Dehumanizing the workplace

Creating more spaces between people makes it harder to be seen, heard, and valued. As many benefits come with AI, at this point (do you hear The Terminator soundtrack playing in the background, too?), it is a tool. People are still necessary, and workplaces must continue investing in them.

What can employees do??

Lean in. Embrace AI. Use it to your advantage. Become part of the solution. Here’s how:

Learn

Upskill or reskill as necessary to learn how to use AI. There is and will continue to be a need for knowledgeable people to program, manage, and analyze AI systems and outputs. This is true for any career you choose. Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself.

Engage

Not all of us aspire to be computer scientists or technology wizards. However, we can bring our unique perspectives and experiences to partner with AI operators to help them get it right or, at least, righter. Take advantage of opportunities to participate in discussions about how AI is used at your company.

Become the CEO of Your Career

When you are the CEO of your career, you stay nimble. You don’t wait for things to happen; you make things happen for yourself. You read, stay current, advocate, build your powerbase, and are part of conversations affecting you. You make moves in the best interest of your company—YOU! How ready are you right now to be the CEO of your career? Take this quiz and find out.

Conclusion

According to a 2023 survey conducted by UKG, companies today estimate that 70% of their workforce will use AI to automate or augment some of their job tasks by 2028. AI doesn’t appear to be going away. At the same time, many companies are struggling to craft a vision and strategy for its use.?

Employees’ fears about job displacement, lack of transparency, and dehumanization in the workplace are real and exacerbated when companies don’t get this right.?

So, what is a human employee supposed to do? Well, I’ll tell you what not to do…don’t bury your head in the sand and hope you’ll squeak by. Let me remind you that hope is not a strategy. Instead, take control. Become the CEO of your career.?

Look around and find a place for yourself in this new world of AI. Learn the skills necessary to be a proficient user of AI. Join company conversations and projects working to create strategies for AI’s use. Help strategists consider issues from different angles by voicing contrary perspectives. By embracing AI and making yourself a part of the process, you can protect or expand your career prospects.

You don’t have to navigate this alone. The pace of change is faster than we’ve ever seen, and having a pro by your side to ensure you stay relevant and in high demand is essential. Schedule your FREE career strategy consultation today to learn how to navigate a changing AI-driven landscape and become the CEO of your career.