Got FOBO? Experts Weigh in On How to Futureproof Your Career
When generative AI tools like ChatGPT first came on the scene, a lot of workers rejoiced. Suddenly, mundane but time-absorbing tasks like writing emails, scheduling meetings and other admin took half the time.
Then, the realization set in. If these tools can already perform plenty of everyday work tasks, what on earth will they be able to do in the future?
Predictions indicate: a heck of a lot. According to technology analysts Forrester, generative AI will replace 2.5 million jobs by 2030—and everyone is at risk. In fact, as one Stanford University academic put it, the new generation of automated tools are “blind to the color of your collar.”
It’s no wonder that the rise of AI has led to a new kind of anxiety: FOBO or the fear of becoming obsolete. According to a recent survey, a fifth of white collar workers are struggling with it, worried that AI platforms will destabilize their career prospects over the months and years to come.
Are their worries well founded? Will generative AI really shake up the job market that much? And, if so, how can today’s employees future proof their jobs for tomorrow?
We spoke to three experts to find out.
Are robots really coming for our jobs?
Fear that technology will displace human workers is nothing new. Way back in 1850, a group of tailors threatened strike action because of the introduction of a terrifying new technology … sewing machines. A few decades later, people were mistrustful and frightened of the idea of a “horseless carriage”—what later became the modern day car.
If history is anything to go by, then technological progress isn’t something we have to worry about. Rather, it’s something that will make our lives better. Already, for example, we’ve seen the potential for AI to enhance the precision of life-saving surgeries, combat climate change and reduce the digital divide.
The trouble, of course, is that previous revolutions only altered certain industries and vocations. This digital revolution, on the other hand, knows no bounds. No job, no sector, no individual is immune from AI transformation. And that can be frightening to digest.
According to Emma Parry, professor of Human Resource Management and head of the changing world of Work Group at Cranfield School of Management: “The picture is not quite as simple as the ‘robots are taking our jobs’ rhetoric suggests.”
Optimistically, she sees the dawn of generative AI as an era of job augmentation, not replacement.
“In the short-term, we are likely to see technology being used to support people to do their work more effectively,” Parry says, “It’s also important to realize that technology is creating jobs. The picture should not be one of overall job loss but one where, over time, new skills emerge while others become obsolete.”
Right now, the skills needed to thrive in an AI-enhanced workplace might seem a little elusive, but they aren’t as ambiguous as you might think. If you’ve interacted with ChatGPT or Bard, then you’re halfway there.
“Already, we can appreciate how AI technologies are requiring employees to learn new skills,” explains Fred Oswald, professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Rice University who conducts research on the use of AI in employment settings. He cites examples like creating prompts for large language models as skills that are integral to the new world of work.
AI is no substitute for emotional intelligence
While some people have thus far been hesitant to use generative AI tools, our experts think it will be crucial to employability in the near-future. As author and professor Gerald Kane put it: “It’s less about AI replacing workers, but workers who use AI will replace workers who don’t.”
Of course, with AI evolving at such a rapid pace, some of the skills we’ll need to use in the future don’t even exist yet. Because change is happening so quickly, staying open-minded and retaining a growth mindset are crucial.
“The important thing for people to do is find ways they can keep refreshing their skills,” says Parry, noting that learning when not to use AI will be just as important as learning when to use it.
“AI is only as good as the data that it draws on,” she explains. “If the data is biased then the decisions that AI makes will also be biased. The most important thing is to be open to using AI but also to reflect on the limitations, and take these into account.”
That’s not to say that the future job market will depend entirely on humans being AI controllers. In fact, with AI automating many routine technical jobs, the opportunities for human ingenuity and creativity at work will skyrocket.
“We will see a change in the types of skills that are important in the labor market,” continues Parry. “Most notably, we are likely to see an increased emphasis on interpersonal skills, leadership and emotional intelligence as these cannot (yet) be replicated by technology.”
With that in mind, focusing on developing skills like empathy, self-awareness and conflict resolution will all be of great help in the workplace, both now and in the future. In fact, these skills are likely to be exactly what HR teams are looking for.
“We are likely to see employers move away from recruiting fixed skill sets and towards seeking people with softer skills, agility and an ability to learn,” she says. “In essence, people who are able to refresh their capabilities on an ongoing basis and to change roles as needed.”
How to prepare yourself for the new world of work
For people keen to future proof their careers, our experts have a few tips.
- Be open to AI
Instead of fearing AI, get curious about how you can use it, and how it’s impacting the world at large. “We should move away from this utopian or dystopian view. AI will bring both opportunities and challenges to individuals and organizations,” says Parry.
- Experiment with different AI tools
Already, there’s a host of generative AI tools out there that are free to use. While learning anything new can be challenging at first, our experts believe embracing AI is unequivocally important to career longevity. As Kane puts it: “I think you’d be hard-pressed to say that the AI revolution is not here to stay, but it takes some investment to learn to use the technology well.”
- Elevate your empathy
Whether you take our emotional intelligence test or take steps to actively raise your EQ, brushing up on your soft skills is a surefire way to shine in the workplace – now and in the future. In fact, one study even found that 90% of top performers have high emotional intelligence.
- Cultivate an openness to experience
If you’re familiar with the Big Five personality test, you’ll know that Openness is a personality trait characterized by creativity, curiosity and receptivity to new ideas. With AI set to bring about a lot of change, boosting your Openness score will help you embrace the new–and it’s relatively easy to do with practice! Simple activities like trying a new hobby, reading a diverse range of news sources and actively trying to see things from someone else’s viewpoint will all help you adapt better in the face of change.
From obsoletion to opportunity
Ultimately, in some ways, FOBO is warranted. AI will indeed change the world of work, and some jobs will become obsolete. But companies will always need people. It’s just the type of work we perform might differ from what we do now. And who’s to say that’s a bad thing?
After all, with technology at our disposal, we’ll likely have the opportunity to focus more on work that has impact and meaning, to connect with the people around us and, perhaps, even work for four days a week rather than five!
With all that to gain, embracing generative AI and the upskilling that comes with it doesn’t sound so bad after all.
