AI Reshaping the Workforce
The World Economic Forum (via GOBankingRates) estimates that AI will be the driving force behind job loss, affecting 85 million jobs by 2025. The truth is that AI can increase productivity twice as fast as a human.
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Companies are beginning to develop their own AI programs, while unions are attempting to protect their members from being replaced.
The Limitations of AI
In its simplest form, AI is an algorithm that is fed information by humans to imitate intelligence. Sure, this type of intelligence is extremely useful in specific work settings where identifying patterns is key, but there is a limitation.
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Humans can be more responsive to changes, allowing their imagination, anticipation, feeling, and judgment to help make decisions that have short-term and long-term effects in an instant.
The Future of Humans in the Workplace
Humans exhibit authentic intelligence, a term describing intelligence that surpasses mere cognitive abilities and incorporates various uniquely human qualities.
Source: ThisIsEngineering
As AI continues to evolve, the discussion around authentic intelligence will likely become even more relevant, prompting us to consider what truly defines human intelligence and how we can foster these qualities in ourselves and future generations. But enough intelligent talk. Let’s get into the list of jobs that AI is threatening to replace in the upcoming years.
A New Type of Money Management
Accounting clerks manage a company’s financial documents, helping align spending with the company’s budget. On average, people in this job make $42,932 a year (via ZipRecruiter). AI is rapidly transforming the accounting field and can threaten anyone in this line of work.
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“Accounting clerks face a significant threat from automation, and software like QuickBooks and FreshBooks can already automate many of their tasks,” said Nazmul Hasan, founder and CIO at AI Buster, to GOBankingRates. “The automation of the accounting system is expected to reduce job opportunities in this sector by 4.5% by 2031.”
A New Face in the Office
There is nothing like a real person working behind the desk in any office lobby. With a yearly salary of $35,064 (via ZipRecruiter), receptionists are the face of an office. However, their jobs might be at risk.
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“Modern technology companies and multinational corporations are developing automated telephone and scheduling systems,” Hasan said, “making traditional receptionist duties unnecessary.”
The Delivery Robot Revolution
As mentioned earlier, you have probably already seen the tiny self-driving robots delivering packages in cities. Thanks to the expanding presence of e-commerce in their day-to-day lives, Americans are increasingly driving a growing appetite for package delivery, potentially replacing the $69,547 yearly salary (via Indeed) of a delivery driver with AI.
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“With the advent of drones and delivery robots, the role of messengers and delivery workers is slowly being replaced,” Hasan said to GOBankingRates. “Delivery automation is becoming more and more common, indicating that this profession will be automated in the near future.”
AI Taking Over IT Support Specialist
IT Support Specialists act as the tech backbone for organizations and individuals. However, AI might make IT support specialist’s jobs, which earn them an average of $51,617 a year (via Indeed), obsolete.
Source: Jacobs School of Engineering, UC San Diego
“With the abundance of resources and online guidance, companies are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence and chatbots to respond to user and customer requests,” Hasan said.
Eliminating Customer Service Jobs
Almost everyone has worked a customer service job. While a full customer service worker can make $63,189 per year, (via Indeed), AI might be able to do the job for a lot less money.
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“For example, Google is already considering firing 30,000 employees in ad sales and customer support roles,” Nathan Brunner, CEO of the job search engine Salarship, said to GOBankingRates. “AI can augment most customer support tasks, and basic inquiries that follow a set script or involve repetitive responses could be handled by AI-powered chatbots altogether.”
AI Playing This Crucial Company Role
Date entry technicians can pull around $40,321 per year (via Indeed) for playing a crucial role in maintaining accurate and organized data for various organizations across different industries. However, AI might be able to do this job more efficiently for less.
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“Manual data entry is becoming obsolete due to advancements in AI/ML,” said Claire Burke, client engagement manager and certified professional career coach at Employment BOOST, to GOBankingRates. “Instead of relying on human technicians, companies utilize algorithms that significantly expedite data entry.”
Self-Check Out Is Easier... Right?
“Anybody who has used a self-checkout machine has seen the rise of automation in retail,” Burke said. “AI reduces the need for human cashiers, and the rise of e-commerce means [fewer] associates are needed for in-store shopping.”
Source: Amazon Fresh
While some companies are slowly finding faults in self-checkout systems, this is still the preferred money-saving method for most companies.
Who Is Working at the Bank?
When was the last time you went into a bank? With online banking becoming the dominant force in people’s lives, bank tellers seem to be taking up space in the empty bank lobbies.
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“Online banking and self-service kiosks are automating the services typically provided by bank tellers and clerks,” Burke said, “resulting in fewer employment opportunities.”