The Future of Work: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

The nature of work is shifting rapidly. AI and machine learning are already being used to automate tasks, like data processing, freeing up employees for higher-level creative thinking, problem solving, and more. AI and machine learning get a lot of attention for their boundary-breaking and workforce-shifting capabilities, but what do advances in AI and machine learning mean for the workplace at large? 

In this blog, the latest in our series on the future of work, we explore the effect of widespread application of AI and machine learning in the workplace and its implications for the nature of jobs and beyond. 

What is Machine Learning? 

According to SAS, “Machine learning is a method of data analysis that automates analytical model building. It is a branch of artificial intelligence based on the idea that systems can learn from data, identify patterns, and make decisions with minimal human intervention.”

Put simply, machine learning is AI using its inherent abilities to analyze and adapt to different scenarios. Rather than relying on human input to control machine output, machines are, instead, able to make decisions based on their abilities to learn. 

Much of this technology is still in its infancy, but that is changing rapidly. 

Machine Learning Careers

While some jobs may shift from human to AI in the coming years, it’s important to remember that the adoption of AI and machine learning in the workplace has the potential to create many more jobs than it displaces. According to Gartner, AI may create 20 percent more jobs than it replaces. 

Less than 5 percent of jobs have the potential to be fully automated. In fact, most jobs have some tasks that can be automated and some that will stay fully in the realm of human ability. The future of work is a bright vision of human employees working alongside AI systems.

Industries that will see the greatest shifts from machine learning in the coming years are healthcare (on both the administrative and patient-facing sides), cybersecurity, computer science, IT, business, web development, and more. Advanced IT professionals, specifically, will see up to 90 percent growth in demand by 2030, and AI in general could double economic growth rates by 2035. 

As you consider your career path and the opportunities available to you, keep an open mind. Soft skills like creativity, interpersonal-relationship building, and leadership will be more important than ever in an AI-infused workplace. Machines may be able to learn and predict behaviors, but they fall short in trial after trial when it comes to conveying empathy, picking up on sarcasm, or making complex, nuanced decisions. 

If you’re interested in upskilling or adapting to changes in the workplace and are already on a career path you love, explore things like certificates and digital learning opportunities. Programs like this can help familiarize you with the world of machine learning and AI and can help you find your niche as the workplace shifts. 

For those just starting out, it’s more important than ever to set yourself up for success in the future with a bachelor’s or master’s degree that provides a well-rounded future-focused education. 

Being able to interact confidently with technology is the way of the future, and for those who are willing to put in the work, will ultimately lead to success.