The Future of AI: Chill, it will not take your job

Yes, it can be trained to do a lot, but taking someone’s job is a stretch. Primarily, referencing the above definition, the system needs to be programmed in order to perform tasks.

It seems like everywhere we turn these days there is yet another person lamenting about how artificial intelligence (AI) “is going to take our jobs”. But what many people don’t realize is that AI isn’t some futuristic technology that is coming for us – it’s already here. In fact, according to a study by Forrester, in 2017 alone businesses spent over $24 billion on AI projects. So if AI is already such a big part of our lives, why are people so afraid of it? Well, the answer comes down to two things: misunderstanding and fear of the unknown.

One thing that bothers me is how much some news/blogs make AI be this creepy phenomenon when, in fact, AI has been around a lot longer than most realize. Let me help you:

The literal Dictionary.com definition of Artificial Intelligence is the capacity of a computer, robot, or other programmed mechanical device to perform operations and tasks analogous to learning and decision-making in humans, such as speech recognition or question answering.

Now think of the different systems or programs you have used that fit the definition. Let me help you again: Spotify, Pandora, and any music streaming platform that uses a shuffle feature. Or what about Google’s search algorithm or Facebook’s ads? Think of how many times you’ve searched for something, and it seems like it’s reading your mind. So you end up seeing a relevant ad. That’s AI at work, and has been for a very long time. Contrary to popular belief, these systems are smart enough to determine browsing habits. How about marketing research systems that analyze people’s spending habits to help marketing teams develop campaigns? The opportunities are endless.

AI is not here to take your job. Yes, it can be trained to do a lot, but taking someone’s job is a stretch. Primarily, referencing the above definition, the system needs to be programmed in order to perform tasks. Then the same program needs to be fed tasks for it to solve. How is it fed those tasks? You guessed it…humans.

The truth is, AI can be an incredible tool when used correctly

AI will not take away our jobs. So what does this mean for the future of work? It means that those who understand how to properly leverage AI will be at a distinct advantage – they will have strong skills and capabilities that those who don’t know how to use AI will be unable to compete with.

So if you’re afraid of being left behind in today’s rapidly changing world, don’t be. Instead, learn everything you can about AI and how to use it – because that’s where the real opportunities will be in the years ahead. Learn how to leverage AI to help you win in the marketplace. Tools such as CodeWP and Jasper.ai will be around to help you leverage AI to build and create solutions.

The question we miss is, are people skilled enough to use these products to efficiently solve a problem? You could prompt one of those tools to create a solution, but is it the correct solution? Is the code optimized? Are you asking the right questions to get the right solution? That’s the part of AI that many inexperienced people will miss.

There are many, many more options out there. Don’t shy away from using AI or fear it will take your job. Learn how to leverage the future of these tools to put you in a position of being necessary for the workplace. After all, no one has created an AI tequila mixer. Yet.