OPINION: Will AI Completely Replace Human Workers? Not Likely

Most activities at the human-machine interface require people to perform new and different actions, such as training AI models.

With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), many "human" jobs are becoming time-efficient and cost-effective, including translating languages, providing customer service, transforming recruitment processes, and many more. As a result, there are legitimate concerns that artificial intelligence will ultimately replace human workers throughout the economy. However, such a scenario is not inevitable or even most likely. 

According to a recent study, by 2030, local economies can get up to a 26 per cent boost in GDP  with the adoption of AI and a staggering $15.7 trillion potential contribution.

Evolution Of Generative AI And Its Impact On Human Resources

More often than not, practitioners focus on industry-specific AI solutions for sectors such as finance, healthcare, and so on. However, the most impactful application of AI is the general-purpose capabilities that enable the average professional to accomplish their tasks more efficiently. It is a matter of co-piloting more effectively so as to produce meaningful outcomes. In recent times, generative artificial intelligence has become increasingly popular, attracting wide attention as it paves an innovative technological trail.

The evolution of Generative AI transforms how companies innovate at the workplace and operate efficiently with time-saving efforts. The GAI algorithms provide outputs with the data they are trained on in various formats, like text, audio, video, etc. Hence, incorporating generative AI technology by skilled workforce or business leaders can open up new possibilities for organisations, enabling them to stay competitive in an ever-changing marketplace while achieving greater efficiency and growth. ChatGPT has vividly demonstrated this impact. With over 100 million users, the adoption rate has skyrocketed by leaps and bounds within a short span since the launch.

Opportunities For New Roles And Talents Within The Human Workforce 

In terms of tactical thinking, problem-solving nuances, adaptive thinking, and outside-the-box thinking, AI still needs to catch up to the human brain. Artificial intelligence cannot replace human talent and creativity, it can only mimic the human brain.

The algorithms designed for machine learning (ML) must be taught how to perform their assigned tasks. This requires a large number of human resources which will only continue to multiply in the near future.  AI eliminates monotonous tasks such as data entry and account logging; however, customer service, sales, marketing, innovation, research, and specialised AI roles remain in high demand.

Co-Piloting AI And Human Intelligence

As per reports, the global artificial intelligence (AI) market size was estimated to be over USD 119 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to reach over $1,591 billion by 2030, with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38.1 per cent from 2022 to 2030.

Future job roles will reflect the outcomes of reimagined processes, and companies will increasingly organise around skills rather than rigid job titles. AI requires more and more professionals with skills in machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. Many industries will grow alongside AI, including data science, analytics, and software development. As a result, new job opportunities will be created.

Moreover, with the evolution of AI, there are several advantages to using AI models over traditional analytic methods. While this would certainly displace certain human jobs, it will also pave the way for newer, more skilled labour. The human workforce will bolster these models by instructing and delivering ideas to the AI systems, enabling them to undertake a whole new persona. 

Taking the next step ahead, when hyper-personalised instructions are given to imbibe the persona of the desired outcome, even greater results with higher efficiency can be achieved. While hyper-personalisation isn’t currently in place, the speed with which this system is evolving makes it an integral part of the very near future. This is due to its increased effectiveness and the time saved on menial tasks. 

Key Takeaways

Most activities at the human-machine interface require people to perform new and different actions, such as training AI models. As a result, organisations that use machines merely to replace workers with automation will miss out on the full potential of AI. 

However, it is also important to note that humans need to upskill in order to be able to align with highly skilled jobs wherein they would be working directly with these models. The leaders of tomorrow will be those who embrace collaborative intelligence, transforming their operations, markets, and industries.

As machines can perform cyclical tasks with high accuracy and consistency, AI will help assist with various tasks in several industries. These sectors include healthcare, law, creative management, and recruitment. It is abundantly clear that AI-enabled doesn’t implies that human Intelligence is disabled but rather works in co-pilot mode. 

(The author is the founder of ValueMatrix.ai and a mentor with the Nasscom DeepTech Club)

Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, and views of ABP Network Pvt. Ltd.