The tech industry is one of, if not the most fast-moving industries that is constantly outdoing itself, and there is no better example of this fact than the recent leap in AI capabilities that continues to make the rounds today. This development, in particular, has raised the stakes high for individuals and companies alike hoping to navigate its potentially massive implications for their careers and operations.
For years, many have echoed the sentiment that surviving the inevitable AI disruption hinges on cultivating one’s creativity and other uniquely human skill sets. But as evidenced by generative AI like GPT-4 and Dall-E 2, this frontier technology can do much more than crunching numbers and analysing data. With AI tools now being widely used, professionals in the tech industry must prioritise how to stave off the displacement that may soon occur as AI advances and future-proof itself in the age of intelligent machines.
1. Avoid predictability
As of now and in the foreseeable future, AI, particularly generative AI, will not be capable of making its own unique insights as humans can. It is best thought of as a prediction engine that spots patterns in how words, images, and other data relate to each other and produces output that considers them in relation to each other in many sophisticated ways.
Nonetheless, this aspect of generative AI can be a powerful tool when used correctly, such as leveraging GPT-4 and its vast dataset of common knowledge to understand how most people feel or think about something, including their misconceptions and prejudices. But should these tools be deployed without question, their nudges and algorithms could very well turn us into predictable creatures. A prime example of this is whenever we allow Gmail to autocomplete our emails, where we sacrifice a bit of uniqueness and originality for improved convenience and ultimately turn AI’s prediction into a self-fulfilling prophecy that makes every correspondence more predictable.
Thus, while AI tools are great for making initial drafts and ideation, you may be better off doing the opposite of what they suggest if you want to stand out since you will be going against conventional wisdom. Just as some brands have discovered that modern consumers now ignore boilerplate “corporate speak”, we may discover the advantage of embracing our own unpredictability and personality when everyone else is turning to AI.
2. Hone the skills that machines strive to emulate
GPT-4 and other commercial AI tools are designed to emulate what humans can do, be it creating art, producing captivating stories, and even displaying empathy in their responses. But, as mentioned, AI’s responses are currently just based on prediction, meaning they are incapable of replicating the human version of these soft skills, much less those that leverage many of these individual capabilities at once, such as managing a team to complete deliverables. Project management training and hard work will always be necessary to achieve that.
As creatures that are inherently wired to respond to genuine emotions, truly understanding yourself, actually learning and caring about what others think and feel, and honing your potential to create something machines can only dream is an essential strategy to set yourself apart in the age of artificial intelligence.
3. Work on your personal branding
Although AI might soon make many professions in the lower and middle ends of the market obsolete as they can effectively produce their work with sufficient quality or better, they will not displace industry leaders and professionals with strong brands anytime soon.
Just as artwork buyers will almost always opt for a “real Rembrandt” despite the number of equally beautiful paintings made by his lesser-known contemporaries, organisations will continue to work with and hire people who are exceptional in their field, even if it comes at a premium price. This choice is partly a statement of quality and brand reputation as they show the world they only associate with and value the best. In short, the rise of AI does not change the fact that branding matters and is crucially tied to human nature.
4. Cultivate expertise
AI is unparalleled when it comes to researching facts and information it has been trained on. However, there have been many incidents where the results it outputs are not true. These incidents are called “hallucinations” and are more likely to occur when the AI’s training data is not “clean” and up to date. Therefore, despite being an extraordinarily valuable tool, it cannot always be relied on to deliver accurate results for now. This highlights the importance of developing recognised expertise in your field since it still falls on humans to corroborate whatever “first draft” AI creates with trusted sources. If you are among those with such expertise, you can rest assured that there will always be a demand for you in the future
Conclusion
AI holds great potential to transform our personal and, most importantly, professional lives. However, with this innovation comes a growing concern about AI and the new wave of threats it poses to cybersecurity. While there is undoubtedly a reason to be concerned about being displaced as AI becomes smarter and more capable, at the end of the day, it cannot emulate human ingenuity. So, by following the strategies above, you can be adept at identifying and providing unique value, which is the clearest path to career insurance.
If you are interested in developing new skills aligned with the future, sign up for one of our many professional courses at BridgingMinds today! From CISSP training to Business Need Analysis, we deliver comprehensive and relevant training programs surrounding cyber security, DevOps, project management, and much more.
