Your AI "Assistant, Co-worker, or Replacement": Strategies for Winning the Involuntary Game

In the 16th edition of?this newsletter, entitled “AI Impact on IT Job Markets - Techne Summit 2023 Discussion,”?it was concluded?that the general takeaway rule that IT professionals themselves can use is to apply the?“Pareto Concept”?to their job tasks. If their job requires 80% of?tasks?that depend only on a?“Know-How Competitive Advantage,”?they may be at severe risk very soon. However, if their job requires 80% of tasks that depend mainly on the?“Know-Why and Know-When Competitive Advantages,”?they may still have the luxury of time to adapt to the?“Generative AI Disruption”?while being in a relatively better and safer position.

Hence, understanding the different?“Types of Competitive Advantages”?and how they are impacted by Generative AI Disruption is crucial for individuals to navigate this rapidly changing landscape.?By recognizing where their job tasks fall on the?“Spectrum of Know-How, Know-Why, and Know-When”?competitive advantages, individuals can better assess the level of risk they face and develop strategies to adapt.

In this edition of the newsletter, I will focus on the detailed nature of the?“Generative AI Risks in the Workplace”?and the?“Potential Strategies for Adaptability”?to mitigate these risks and even win by transferring these risks into?“Generative AI opportunities for the Workplace.”

The current perception of Generative AI’s disruption to the workplace is that it may replace many jobs. A clear example of?“Job Replacements by Generative AI”?is the ability of Generative AI to replace customer support agents,?which could, potentially, lead?to a significant decrease in employment opportunities within that field.?This?has sparked concerns about the future of work and how industries will adapt to these technological advancements. However, it is essential to note that while Generative AI may negatively impact specific jobs, it also creates new opportunities, as implementing?Generative AI?in the workplace can?“Increase Efficiency and Productivity,”?ultimately benefiting employees alike at the end of the day. Therefore,?it is crucial for individuals to embrace?and adapt to these advancements in order to stay competitive in the ever-evolving technological landscape.?

The first?and straightforward “Winning Adaptable Strategy”?is to position the Gereative AI as your?“AI Co-worker”?who can complete routine and daunting tasks to free up employees’ agendas to focus on more complex tasks.?This approach?not only boosts productivity but also?enhances employee satisfaction and overall performance.?For example, by integrating Generative AI into the daily workflows, employees can streamline their daily tasks and increase their output without feeling overwhelmed. This shift in mindset towards AI as a helpful tool rather than a replacement for human workers can lead to a more harmonious work environment where?both?technology and human creativity can thrive.?In the end, embracing these advancements can lead to a more efficient and productive workforce that can overcome digital-age challenges.?This?means that you deliberately transfer, to your AI co-worker, the 80% of tasks that depend only on the?“Know-How Competitive Advantage.”?

Upgrading the?“Competitive Strategic Game”?to the next level shifts the focus of the discussion to the second winning adaptable strategy. This strategy involves actively seeking?and capitalizing on opportunities to gain a competitive advantage over your?“Generative AI Rivals.”?Instead of considering it as your co-worker who can complete routine and daunting tasks, you may start considering it as your?effective “AI Assistance”?that can boost your productivity in ways you never thought possible.?This?means?not only?utilizing its capabilities to streamline your daily routine workflows?but also?proactively looking for ways to outsmart and outmaneuver this competitive game.?For example, your AI Assistance can analyze market dynamics and competitor strategies to help you stay ahead of the competition curve.?This?means that you deliberately exploit your AI Assistance to assist you in the 80% of tasks that require the higher?“Know-Why and Know-When Competitive Advantages.”

Hence, and to conclude, individual employees should apply the?“Pareto Concept”?to their job tasks and understand the different?“Types of Competitive Advantages”?to recognize where their job tasks fall on the?“Spectrum of Know-How, Know-Why, and Know-When Competitive Advantages.”?This?helps them better assess the level of risk they face and develop their?“Winning Adaptable Strategies,”?capitalizing on opportunities to gain a competitive advantage over their?“Generative AI Rivals”?in this?“Involuntary Competitive Strategic Game.”?They can deliberately transfer to the Gereative AI, their?“AI Co-worker,“the 80% of tasks at risk that depend only on a?“Know-How Competitive Advantage.”?A higher-order strategy is to start considering it as their?“AI Assistance,”?which can assist them in the 80% of tasks that require higher?“Know-Why and Know-When Competitive Advantages”?and boost their productivity and efficiency in ways they never thought possible to outsmart and outmaneuver this?“Involuntary Competitive Strategic Game.”