Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming jobs in every industry from healthcare to manufacturing. As these technologies grow, it’s important that businesses are prepared for the AI revolution. Tech skills will be important going forward, but so will skills involving creativity and emotional intelligence – which AI doesn’t possess.

Will AI take over jobs?

Concerns are often raised about the threat of AI on the labor market. Will it lead to job losses? Which industries will see the biggest unemployment rates? And will robots taking over jobs eventually make us all redundant? These are all valid questions, especially as the technology is getting smarter every day. After all, robots can already:

• Handle data entry, payroll and bookkeeping tasks

• Write routine emails

• Respond to customer requests

• Track parcels

• Take on high-risk tasks like assembly line manufacturing

• Filter job applications

Jobs that AI will replace

PwC analysis shows that, in the short term, AI could have the biggest impact on financial services where algorithms can lead to faster and more efficient decision-making. In the longer term, however, the transport sector is set to see the most momentous change, with the development of driverless vehicles leaving no need for couriers and taxi drivers. Manufacturing is another industry likely to be impacted by the AI takeover as robots replace humans in factories.

But while it’s true that some jobs are on the decline because of automation, and fears of AI taking over jobs are justified in some cases, it's not as clear cut as ‘world domination’ by machines.

In fact, the World Economic Forum predicts that, by 2025, technology will create at least 12 million more jobs than it destroys.

Another survey on AI job replacement, led by academics at the University of Warwick and University of Sussex Business School, shows that less than a quarter of firms introducing AI technology over the past five years believe it has led to a net loss of jobs. So worries about robots taking over jobs may be unfounded.

Let’s face it, we’ve been here before. New technology isn’t a new phenomenon. The industrial revolution and rise of the internet were met with similar skepticism. Technology has progressed rapidly over the years, yet people still have jobs. AI is designed to complement jobs, not destroy them.

“Discussions about AI’s potential impact on jobs have tended to focus on potential job losses as AI is increasingly capable of automating complex tasks,” says Dr Will Hunt, from the University of Warwick’s Institute for Employment Research. And while there does seem to be some evidence of that, our research shows that AI is as likely to lead to net job creation in companies introducing AI as it is to lead to net destruction.”

How is artificial intelligence creating jobs?

AI has the potential to generate huge economic benefits, and is expected to contribute up to 15 trillion US dollars to global GDP by 2030, according to PwC analysis.

Some of these gains will change the nature of work for humans as automation will place more of an emphasis on higher-value and empathetic tasks that often require strong interpersonal skills. These different types of jobs can be hugely beneficial to businesses if they find new and exciting ways to use AI to help their employees be more creative, strategic and entrepreneurial.

Here are some of the key ways that AI can create or enhance jobs:

Carry out routine tasks

AI can whiz through many of those boring and repetitive tasks that used to chip away at employees’ valuable time. This frees up the day to focus on the more innovative and creative aspects of the job. It can also fill productivity gaps left by staff shortages.

And when the mundane stuff is taken care of, employees can concentrate on winning new customers and helping to expand the business.

Train staff in new skills

AI can play an important role in training, enabling companies to upskill more staff. Not only can it deliver personalized learning and grade assessments, it can also provide learners with 24/7 support, answering their questions and offering guidance on course material. This type of interactive learning makes training quicker and helps learners retain information better. All of which allows instructors to focus on more high-level tasks, like providing feedback and mentoring.

Create careers requiring emotional intelligence

Robots can do many things better than humans, but they don’t yet have the capability to take on roles that require a high level of emotional intelligence. Such jobs include management, mentoring, social work and occupational psychology.

The growth of AI is likely to be accompanied by a rise in career opportunities for people with qualities such as empathy, creativity and critical thinking, which are key to a successful workplace. While AI can identify problems and offer solutions, it takes an emotionally intelligent human being to motivate teams, manage wellbeing and encourage collaboration. Jobs based on compassion, care, creativity and education are going to be vital in the future workforce.

And there are some jobs AI can’t replace. Jobs that can’t be automated and will always require a human touch include frontline roles like firefighters, caregivers and teachers.

8 jobs created by AI

The growth of AI is expected to continue apace in the years to come, creating job opportunities and transforming industries.

Even with AI automation, humans will still have overall control and may need to step in if things go wrong. And AI is creating new opportunities in fields like data science, machine learning and robotics – but not all are tech-related. Jobs created by AI include:

1. AI trainers

Someone will need to teach AI systems how to function – they can’t do it by themselves despite what you might see in the movies. Interestingly, many white-collar workers are already moving to higher paying roles as AI trainers. One such opportunity is training chatbots or virtual agents to deal with customer inquiries.

2. Data analysts

With AI generating vast amounts of information, data analysts will need to collate and interpret it. Automation can make the job simpler and quicker, but analysts will still need to extract the most meaningful information from data sets to help businesses make better informed decisions.

3. AI-assisted health workers

AI has massive potential to transform the healthcare sector. One major way it can help is by aiding health workers to identify and diagnose medical conditions more accurately. Telemedicine and in-home testing equipment can analyze data while taking into consideration patient risk factors, including age, gender and location.

4. AI engineers

As take-up of artificial intelligence in the workplace grows, AI engineers will be in high demand. They will need to be highly skilled in programming, software engineering and data science and be able to build AI models using machine learning algorithms. AI will create new opportunities to develop systems that are cost-effective and efficient for organizations.

5. AI developers

Often working closely alongside AI engineers and analysts, AI developers use their skills to bring businesses into the future. Their role is to develop the AI software and apps that are best suited to a company based on the data collected and analyzed.

6. 3D artists

As interest in the metaverse grows, 3D and CGI artists will create entire virtual environments that people can interact with using avatars of themselves. AI can work together with the metaverse, using 3D scans to come up with highly realistic facial expressions and simulated spaces to create an internet you can step inside.

7. Fitness commitment counsellors

In future, instead of going to the gym or working out with a trainer, we’ll use fitness counsellors to conduct remote coaching sessions. They will analyze the data from our wearable tech and use it to motivate us to improve our lifestyle and wellbeing.

8. AI ethics advisers

Machine learning is only as good as the data fed into it. If the data is biased, the AI output will also be biased. This creates potential hazards for governments and businesses. Because of this, humans will need to make sure AI systems operate as designed without crossing ethical boundaries. For example, you could hire an ethics compliance manager to protect an AI algorithm from being manipulated.

How to prepare for AI in the workplace

As AI continues to evolve, there will undoubtedly be many more opportunities for workers in a wide range of fields. Reskilling and upskilling employees to do these jobs is essential to keep up with the times and stay competitive in the job market. Skills to develop in the age of AI include:

• Analytical thinking

• Strong verbal and written communication

• Creativity

• People management and leadership

• Emotional intelligence

• Growth mindset

Just as with the internet, real change will come from places where our imagination has not yet taken us.

Keep reading:

• The future of work
• Nine workplace trends for 2023
• The future of VR