AI: A New Set of Jobs & A New Approach to Existing Ones

Since the dawn of civilization, we have been ‘innovating’ to build machines that reduce our effort for laborious tasks and automate repetition. We journeyed from wheels that eased transportation to printing presses that eliminated manual text copying, from assembly lines that automated manufacturing tasks to computers that revolutionized administrative jobs. Now, with the advent of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI), we may have a way to automate all tasks that are algorithmic and repetitive.

I read about the word ‘thunking’ in a post from Cassie Kozyrkov, Google’s Chief Decision Scientist, and it is so apt for what I am talking about here.

If you’re now picturing a dull sound as if someone were using their head as a battering ram to open a door, then you’re on the right track. It may seem far-fetched, but this notion is more relatable to your professional life than you might think.

While some tasks demand our finest human qualities — creativity, problem-solving, and cognitive engagement — others, the ‘thunking’ tasks, are predictable, repetitive, and don’t require much cognitive firepower. It doesn’t matter how grand your job title might be, part of your day, or even most of it, is likely filled with ‘thunking’. Data entry, scheduling, or explaining the same things again and again, copy-pasting stuff based on a fixed logic, that’s ‘thunking’. These are the tasks that you can do almost on autopilot once you have figured out what needs to be done.

So, where does AI fit into this? It’s coming for our ‘thunking’. The repetitive, routine, mindless tasks are on the AI chopping block. The good news? AI doesn’t automate thinking. It leaves creativity, problem-solving, and cognitive engagement to us, and isn’t that what we truly enjoy about our work?

The Future of Work in the AI Era

As anti-climatic as it may sound, I think the future will be a lot similar to the past 20 years. Quoting one of my favorite lines from Satya Nadella — ‘All companies are tech companies in some shape or form’. Everybody in every company uses tech to maximize every thing that they do. In the last 20 years, we have seen that those who are able to leverage tech better have been more successful than others. In this AI-driven world, the key to success will lie in leveraging AI effectively. The question isn’t whether AI will be a part of the workplace, but how quickly we can adapt to it and how much we can take advantage of it.

In that respect, I see the professional world being divided into two parts: those who build AI tools and those who use them.

In a report by the World Economic Forum, it was estimated that by 2025, AI and automation will create 12 million more jobs than it will displace. This underlines the emergence of a plethora of new roles.

Emerging Job Roles in the AI Age

New Roles for AI Companies

Among the newly minted positions, we can expect AI Developers, who build AI models; AI Ethics Officers, monitoring ethical tool application; AI Data Analysts, deciphering vast data used by the tooling in their company as well as the usage data of the tools they are selling; AI User Experience Designers, ensuring user-friendly AI products; AI Test Engineers, upholding system quality and AI Trainers, refining AI systems with training data.

On a similar vein, according to a global study by Accenture, which involved over 1,000 large companies using or testing AI and machine-learning systems, three three new broad categories of AI-driven roles will emerge: trainers, explainers, and sustainers. Trainers teach AI systems to perform tasks. Explainers interpret AI decisions for non-experts, and sustainers maintain and refine AI systems over time.

New Roles for Non AI Companies

All non-AI companies already have and will continue to employ AI System Developers, who understand the available AI models and tools to build custom solutions tailored for their own companies. Working alongside them are AI Quality Assurance Testers, ensuring system functionality. Integral to this team are AI Business Analysts and Product Managers. These professionals, with their deep understanding of AI’s vast potential and their business acumen, are the architects of new products and features, facilitating the transition of every business unit into an era of unprecedented productivity. Data Governance specialists ensure privacy, data quality, and ethical data use. And last but not least, the Head of AI, who may embody the roles of strategist, product manager, architect, and developer of AI. (By the way, Netflix recently started recruiting for a AI Product Manager role with a salary ceiling of $900K ! )

Beyond these, other pivotal roles would include AI Policy Makers/Lawyers, navigating AI’s complex regulatory landscape and other roles to round up the ecosystem. As AI becomes a pervasive force, every role, from sales and marketing to operations and supply chain, will need to evolve, learn, adapt, and leverage these tools to enhance productivity.

Bridging the Gap: The Role of Consultancy Firms

While the rise of AI seems inevitable, there’s a vast expanse between AI creators and everyday users. This is where service and consultancy firms come into play, acting as the bridge-builders in the AI landscape. These firms will not only offer strategic guidance but also provide personalized toolkits, ensuring businesses harness the full potential of AI.

Preparing for the Future: Adapting to AI

As AI continues its forward march, you must make a choice. You can either be part of the emerging roles — building, governing, and consulting on AI tools — or must master the art of leveraging these tools to augment your productivity. According to a McKinsey report, professionals actively engaging with AI tools are 60% more likely to report job satisfaction and productivity. The future beckons, and it’s one where AI doesn’t replace humans but works alongside them.

Rather than being forced to do so, you can start becoming conversant with AI, proactively look to automate your mundane tasks, streamline processes, and augment your capabilities, allowing more time for growth oriented, strategic or creative pursuits. You probably always wanted to do a lot more at the office or in life, but couldn’t find time because of the ‘routine’ tasks that consumed a lot of your time. This is your opportunity ! In this light, AI emerges not as a job-stealing villain but as an ally that helps us focus on creating value and fostering innovation.

Conclusion: A New Way of Thinking

In conclusion, the Fifth Industrial Revolution will not just usher in an era of new jobs but also a new way of thinking about our roles, our tasks, and our contributions. This is a challenge to all of us to move from ‘thunking’ to ‘thinking’, to use AI to enhance productivity and to focus on using that extra time to create the outcomes we seek. By embracing AI, we can stay relevant in an evolving job market, ensuring we’re not left behind but instead leading the charge into the future. Are you ready?