Is your job future-proof? How AI could affect job roles

IS YOUR JOB FUTURE-PROOF? A report prepared by management consultancy McKinsey predicts that about 30 per cent of the activities in 60 per cent of occupations could be automated by 2030. The report states that “nearly all occupations will be affected by automation — but only about 5 per cent of occupations could be fully automated by currently demonstrated technologies.” A visitor takes a picture with his phone of an image design with AI in Berlin.

ACTIVITIES VS JOBS: A McKinsey report suggests that about 50 per cent of the activities currently carried out by the world’s workers could be automated – the key word here being “activities”, not jobs. Jobs that could be affected by AI-based algorithms, bots and drones, may include the following: data-entry clerks, telemarketers, cashiers, manufacturing workers, customer support representatives, taxi/ truck drivers, admin assistants, data analysts, travel agents and warehouse workers. Photo shows a humanoid at a recent summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

REPETITIVE MANUAL, DANGEROUS TASKS: Some industries will be harder hit than others, with greater scope to replace repetitive manual tasks with automation. Roles that require people management, niche expertise, and interfacing with stakeholders are less susceptible to automation, as these ‘soft’, interpersonal skills are still the sole domain of us humans. Photo taken on September 22, 2023 shows a demonstration of DEEP Robotics' X30 robot dog walking downstairs.

DIGITAL TOOLS: As AI and automation redefine job roles, there's one clear upside: it frees up employees for more creative and strategic work. New tools can help individuals and organisations work more efficiently and effectively — from chatbots to virtual assistants. They can be harnessed without burning out or sacrificing work-life balance, says Karl Escritt, CEO of Like Digital & Partners.

IMBEDDED AI TOOLS: AI is already deeply imbedded in our day-to-day lives. The fear that “the robots are coming for our jobs” ignore the role played by super-human intelligence to enhance traditional jobs, including manufacturing and production (i.e. bot welders), customer service (chat bots), healthcare (diagnostics), transportation (self-driving vehicles), finance (algorithmic trading), retail (recommendation engines), legal (research/review), human resources (candidate matching), education (personalised learning), journalism (content creation), agriculture (weed/pest control or harvest automation), construction (quality control/predictive maintenance), security (threat detection), entertainment (automated editing/augmented reality/virtual reality), environmental monitoring (biodiversity/ocean monitoring) and other roles. A visitor takes a selfie with "Sophia" the humanoid.

NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM: And while it’s true that some roles will be made obsolete as technology continues to evolve, it’s not all doom and gloom. In fact, Like Digital & Partners CEO Escrit believes the benefits of AI in the workplace “far outweigh the potential threats, “especially if we use AI tools to our own advantage to improve our work-life balance."

FUTURE-PROOFING YOUR SKILLS: So how do we future proof ourselves and ensure we’re harnessing the powers of AI, rather than pushing against them? Experts cite some of the ways digital tools can help us work more efficiently and effectively, freeing us up to spend more time ideating, collaborating, and creating, and promoting a greater work-life balance.

AUTOMATING ROUTINE TASKS: One of the most obvious and far-reaching benefits of AI is the automation of routine and repetitive tasks. There are a range of AI-driven tools already on the market that can help streamline your more monotonous daily tasks, such as data entry, summarising articles and drafting emails, boosting your productivity and freeing you up to perform more fulfilling activities. Photo shows ARCHAX, A giant human-piloted robot developed by a Japanese start-up company.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS: In an office or team environment, AI-powered project-management tools can streamline workflows and enhance collaboration, reducing administrative responsibilities to allow more bandwidth for creativity and execution. From summarising meeting notes to estimating project costs and forecasting resource needs, the best AI project-management tools are like having a whole team of PMs at your fingertips.

WHAT EMPLOYERS CAN DO: Employers can help ensure their teams are at the top of their game with AI tools dedicated to workforce training and upskilling, redefining roles to accommodate AI and automation, boost collaboration, promote workplace mental health and wellbeing. From platforms designed to recognise emotions and detect early signs of burnout, to virtual coaching programmes and AI-powered EAPs (Employee Assistance Programmes), there are a host of ways employers can use AI to support and nurture their teams.

ENHANCED DECISION-MAKING: In our always-on lives, there simply aren’t enough minutes in the day to process all the strands of information available to us. AI algorithms can help professionals make more informed decisions by analysing huge streams of data, often in the amount of time it takes to make a coffee.

TIME-MANAGEMENT: Even the most organised among us can benefit from enhanced time management to free up some much-needed minutes in our days. AI tools such as virtual assistants and smart calendars that more efficiently schedule your tasks allow you to prioritise your workload more effectively and make more time for the things that really matter in life, such as family, friends, and fitness.

AI-DRIVEN DIAGNOSTICS: While AI is great for streamlining repetitive basic tasks, at the other end of the spectrum it is bringing previously unimaginable levels of accuracy and insight into an array of fields, from medicine to the military. AI tools can analyse and process vast amounts of data at a microscopic level, while eliminating the margin of human error. When it comes to medical diagnostics, AI is being used to review X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, flag abnormalities for early detection of diseases, and use algorithms to diagnose and treat patients. And surely improving our health and longevity is the biggest key to achieving work-life balance.