AI is here to stay, so rather than fearing it will replace you at work, try using it to your own advantage, writes Jess Stuart.
It’s hard to keep up with the evolution of AI and how it’s changing our workplaces as well as our lives. Each week there’s something new in a fast-paced process of change that's generating a lot of fear. There’s still a lot of unknown: will AI replace humans? Should I be worried about my job? Or is it a tool that can revolutionise productivity and reduce burnout by sharing my load?
Fears and opportunities
According to Microsoft Trend Index 2024, 75% of workers already use AI tools (like ChatGPT, Copilot) to boost productivity. Users say AI helps them save time, focus on their most important work, be more creative, and enjoy their work more.
Career coach and author Jess Stuart shares tips to embrace artificial intelligence and make work life more efficient. (Source: Breakfast)
A study by EY suggests that 65% of workers fear that their job will be replaced by AI but according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, globally 69 million new roles could emerge as well.
We’ve been here before. Think about the industrial revolution when farmers moved from the fields into the factories and began to use more modern machinery. Even after that we evolved again to move from the factories into the offices as we ushered in the information age. The headlines then were about computers taking our jobs. What happened? We reskilled, we adapted and yes some jobs were replaced by computers, but many others were created and the world continued to turn.
So while it’s true AI may replace jobs and some of us will find ourselves retraining, history suggests there will be plenty of jobs for humans too – though they might be different.
Adapt or get left behind
I’m always fascinated by our human ability to adapt and with change comes opportunity. The unknown can be scary and learning to use a new system or process is often hard, especially when we’re busy. Yet, if we burry our head in the sand we risk getting left behind. Rather than fear this change we can learn how it can help us – we might find it can be a friend rather than foe.
The bottom line is: artificial intelligence is happening anyway whether we get on board or not.
Sam works in the HR team of a mid-sized logistics company. She was one of the first in her team to embrace AI tools like ChatGPT to help draft job ads, screen CVs, and prepare interview questions. Sam says AI cuts her admin time in half, letting her focus more on people rather than paperwork.
Raj, a marketing executive in Wellington, tells me he uses AI carefully, mainly for generating ideas, first drafts of campaign copy, or summarising customer feedback. He's aware of AI's potential but cross-checks everything himself, wary of errors or robotic tone. He says, “It’s like a colleague who’s great at brainstorming but terrible at writing final copy, it’s useful, but needs checking.”
Hannah, a financial administrator in Christchurch has seen AI tools introduced at her firm, such as automated invoice processing and chatbots for customer service queries. She still prefers doing things manually, worried that AI could make mistakes she would be blamed for. “I like being the human checker. It makes me feel more in control.”
You're already using AI
According to McKinsey, 70% of firms will be using AI by 2030. Even if you’ve not yet jumped on the AI bandwagon as an early adopter you’re probably already using AI. Redirecting your navigation system due to bad traffic? Facial recognition to get into your phone, your personalised recommendations on Netflix, your curated social media feed that presents the perfect ads full of things you want to buy. All examples of Artificial Intelligence.
Many businesses and their employees are using AI tools to get ahead and if you’re not, there’s a risk it’ll be a competitive advantage lost to others. It may also help reduce burnout. If reports are now taking 10 minutes to write, not 2 hours, imagine the time we’d save in a day using AI to assist us with basic tasks.
I think that’s the key here, it’s an assistant rather than doing the job for us. Even the creators themselves advise us to always check and do your own work. Use AI as a collaboration partner not a replacement for your own critical thinking and creativity.
I might ask if for a catchy title or to summarise a piece of writing to fit a word count but I’ll always do my own writing first. AI doesn’t know my personal stories that connect with readers. It took just 10 seconds to produce 50 social media posts based on the content of my recently published book. It’s also been great helping me craft the outline of a keynote presentation for a conference, planning a trip to New York City and showing me what my dog would look like as a human.
Our human point of difference
It may seem like AI can do anything and this is why we fear it might take over our jobs (or even the world). However the skills that (as yet) it can’t master now become our human point of difference. These skills are human-centric ones involving empathy, leadership, and judgment. AI can write a report draft but it can’t lead a difficult team conversation for example.
The human skills we so often take for granted are our competitive advantage and will be what help us navigate this transition and change and ensure our organisations are better places to work.
So lean into being human, know that your empathy, communication and judgment is even more valuable now, and leverage the use of AI to aid productivity and regain some work/life balance. This is the positive side to this current state of change and constantly fearing what’s next with the robots!
I believe jobs won’t necessarily be lost to AI they’ll be reshaped by it. This evolution will also mean that our human skills become our unique advantage and more important now than they ever have been.
With a background in HR, Jess Stuart is now a Waiheke-based career coach and the author of several books including: Burnout to Brilliance and I Love Mondays.
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