Generative AI will bring opportunities, but only if workers have skills
November 7, 2023
Workers should not resist the wave of generative AI, argues Iterate.ai’s Brian Sathianathan. Instead, they should learn to ride it skilfully.
Whether we like it or not, generative AI has passed the point of no return and everyone who is in education today will need to have some level of competency with the tech to keep up. According to Brian Sathianathan, co-founder of the software company Iterate.ai, “Ignoring AI in today’s world is a bit like ignoring the internet in the early 2000s – it’s possible, but you’d be missing out on a world of opportunities.”
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT have become indispensable so fast that everyone needs to have some level of familiarity with the tech. It’s not just for the workers of the future. “Those who choose to remain oblivious to AI might find themselves at a disadvantage in the job market,” Sathianathan warns. “Many industries are integrating AI to enhance efficiency and productivity, and having AI-related skills can be a significant asset. As AI becomes more prevalent, roles that involve routine, repetitive tasks are more susceptible to automation. If you’re not equipped with skills that complement or work alongside AI, you might find your job more vulnerable to being automated.”
Indeed, the threatened automation of many jobs thanks to generative AI is one of the main points of objection the tech’s detractors raise. An oft-cited report by Goldman Sachs from earlier this year posited that generative AI could lead to the replacement of around 300m jobs. But, for people like Sathianathan, automation doesn’t represent a threat, rather it presents an opportunity.
“Would you rather sit at your desk completing data management tasks manually for eight hours, or spend a couple of hours using a programme such as Excel to get the same job done with just a few mathematical formulas?” he asks. “Of course, you’ll pick the latter, but only if you have the skills to use that application. The same applies here for ChatGPT; you have to know what to feed into it in order to get what you want out of it.” Sathianathan’s use of the word ‘if’ is very important. Generative AI tools cannot fully replace the human touch because they require human intelligence to get anything effective out of them.
‘Ignoring AI in today’s world is a bit like ignoring the internet in the early 2000s – it’s possible, but you’d be missing out on a world of opportunities’
For example, ChatGPT cannot fact-check or replace creativity. Due diligence will always be needed. This means it is essential that people learn how to leverage generative AI properly and effectively so they can save time on tasks and focus on more important work, Sathianathan argues.
“Although AI tools like ChatGPT excel at generating text and executing specific tasks, they fall short when it comes to replacing human creativity and intuition. Their effectiveness hinges on the quality of...
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