Will we all be unemployed by AI?
The impact of artificial intelligence on our work
Hey there,
As a futurist, I take the stage to talk about technology trends and developments.
In recent months, I have been focusing more on the question: ‘Okay, what can we do with this now?’'
Therefore, in this newsletter, I share what artificial intelligence can mean for our work.
Enjoy reading,
Peter
PS. Or if you prefer watching, I made a video about what artificial intelligence means for leadership. And yes, now in English!
Work and AI
During my Business Administration studies in Groningen, various management thinkers, theories, and models were discussed. From strategy to culture, from leadership to finance. My interest was mainly in innovation, so that's why I choice Innovation Sciences as my Masters.
One of the biggest forces for innovation and change is artificial intelligence. How does that affect work? What does it demand in terms of education and further training? And how can managers and leaders deal with this?
Here are my insights:
Layoffs in the tech sector;
Education;
Leadership.
1. Layoffs in tech
Ozempic is the latest craze in the United States. It's a type 2 diabetes drugs that lowers blood sugar and reduces appetite. Despite the administration (a weekly injection) and the price of over $900, the drug is breaking sales records.
In his excellent article, Professor Scot Galloway compares Ozempic to artificial intelligence:
Companies slim down with it (read: lay off employees);
They are not very open about it.
After years of massively hiring new people, technology companies are now mainly conducting rounds of layoffs. In 2023, for example, Cisco's workforce shrank by 5%, PayPal by 9%, and Meta by 13%.
This raises many questions for me: do these people easily find another job? Will new jobs emerge elsewhere? Can they be retrained? Do they want that?
This brings me to the second point: education.
2. Education
Since the 1960s, there has been talk of mass unemployment due to automation. However:
Technology doesn't automate jobs, but tasks, and can also create new tasks.
Therefore, when it comes to education and further training, it seems wise to consider what tasks your job consists of.
Next: which tasks are likely to be automated, which tasks may become more important (and take up a larger part of the workweek), and which tasks do you enjoy the most?
Then: what does this require in terms of retraining or further education?
My personal example
Example from my own work as a future researcher and speaker:
Likely automated tasks: reading papers, summarizing, bookkeeping, creating images, transcriptions of podcasts, etc.
Likely more important tasks: interviewing experts, contact with clients, maintaining my network, etc.
Most enjoyable tasks: preparing lectures by thinking about the purpose of the meeting, the audience, the content, and interactive methods that fit. Plus: speaking on stage itself. 😀
Education: interviewing, networking, and speaking skills.
Of course, this is not only a task for the individual alone but also for employers and governments. And given the pace of changes, this is a question that can be answered periodically.
3. Leadership
Technological breakthroughs influence how we work, how we organize work, and how we communicate about it. A few examples:
The railways in the United States in 1855 used a telegraph network to send and receive messages. This led to the first organizational structure: the familiar charts.
Henry Ford utilized the first mechanical clocks and standardized parts to build assembly lines.
The internet made agile and scrum possible around 2001 through faster communication.
If we extend these historical examples to the present time, I'm curious about what artificial intelligence and, in particular, generative AI like ChatGPT will mean for organizational structures and leadership.
My prediction for AI:
even more autonomy for professionals and teams;
promoting successful experiments and exchanging prompts between teams;
continuing development of human skills such as critical thinking, asking the right questions, and collaborating well.
Deep Dive on AI & Work
Articles, books, podcasts, videos, documentaries, and more on this theme.
READ / One of the most important tasks of a manager or leader is making decisions. The book Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish on this theme is unparalleled in my view.
WATCH / Always critically examining your own ideas and assumptions, that's the core of the book Think Again by Adam Grant that I'm currently reading.
My expectation is that with artificial intelligence, this skill becomes (even) more important. The book is really worth reading.
Curious? For a powerful summary, watch his TED talk:
What's cool: Grant will speak at the Amsterdam Business Forum 2024 on September 27 in Amsterdam. I am present and will try to interview Grant about, among other things, the impact of artificial intelligence on organizations and leadership.
🙏 Thank you for reading
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