Everybody’s talking about artificial intelligence. Everybody’s using buzz words and hash tags, and reading the big headlines and repeating what they hear in podcasts. You’re either on the side of being overly excited, or overly petrified, or like me, somewhere in the middle. But there does seem to be a lot of talk ABOUT it, and not a lot of talk about what to DO about it, or how to get prepared.
I’ve been lucky enough to work with very large technology companies for years who have wondered, “How do we get our people prepared for the era of artificial intelligence?” I’ve been involved in learning, hackathons, experiments, center of excellence models, targets, and both good/bad rollouts. I’ve seen what sets the early adopters apart.
If you’re worried about being made redundant by artificial intelligence, or worried about using it in general, here’s what I would recommend.
Work on your critical thinking skills.
Not everything in the era of AI is as it seems, and blindly using AI can be scary (from cognitive rot to spreading false news). The people with the advantage are the ones who think critically: use judgement, analyze what they are hearing, question assumptions, recognize bias (or agenda), and use logic and reason to make a decision or conclusion. AI can give us data, but it can’t make decisions for us. PS: Analytical thinking is the #1 core skill projected for 2030!
Know enough about AI to be dangerous.
There’s so much great training out there about AI. Know some basic tools, how to write good prompts, where you need to be careful, and how to make work easier. All of the artificial providers offer training; if you use a specific suite of tools (Microsoft, Google, Atlassian, etc.) start there. Most universities offer more comprehensive training. If you want good training at a reasonable price, check out Masterclass and the AI for Beginners class.
Focus on adjacent and transferable skills.
Don’t focus on your job and job loss; focus on your skills. Every year, the World Economic Forum publishes a report about skills that covers what employers need and where disruption is likely to happen. You should know your skills (or, have a couple chats with your current and previous managers to understand them). Then, keep an eye on which skills are needed now in the workplace and which ones are on the rise. Make sure you are re-skilling yourself to stay relevant.
Build your network before you need it.
As disruption to companies, jobs, and work happens, there’s one thing that holds true: humans look out for other humans. You’ll need a great network to help you navigate. Join some professional clubs now, start going to events, get some mentors, and make good friends in the workplace. To get you ready, practice how you introduce yourself, practice active listening, and have questions ready to help you find commonalities that will keep you connected.
What’s the bottom line? We can all see the disruption ahead, but we can’t see all the opportunities that will rise. There will be some. We just need to be ready to navigate with clarity, compassion, and courage.