By now, we’ve all probably experimented with AI by creating weird and wonderful images that often look incredibly real (if you don’t count the extra thumbs, alien limbs and other odd errors that AI routinely makes).
But what about AI’s creep into our work lives? Are we really ready for what the increasing presence of AI in the workplace means for us going forward? Is there anything we can do to adapt to this new reality and make sure we still have a place in it?
Living in a brave new world
Adaptability will be key as we head into uncharted waters where “thinking machines” are becoming commonplace and changing the workplace landscape.
Perhaps the biggest concern people have is whether or not AI will replace humans by doing tasks once thought to be something only humans could do. But, according to a recent study, just 30% of tasks in about 60% of jobs hold the potential for automation.1
Still, you can’t rest on your laurels. It’s important to make sure that you understand AI’s benefits and limitations so you can show how much you are still needed—and to demonstrate that AI merely enhances the incredible job you already do.
The best way to do that is to stay informed.
Educate yourself
Continue to learn about AI as it develops so you can adjust your course to maintain your own relevance and position in your organization. In the meantime, try to figure out how you can use AI to your benefit by, for example, breaking down language barriers and making it easier to communicate with others.
You might also consider developing new skills to offset any lost to AI. Or even exploring a whole new career path you’ve always been curious about.
Foresters can help members invest in themselves and take the next step towards a brighter future with the new and improved Foresters Renew™. Take an online class to help develop new skills, or go for that certification you need for your career!
With a total of 570 grants worth up to $750 in reimbursements available to members in Canada and the US, Foresters Renew is an incredible way to help you fulfill your professional goals.2
Apply by September 30, 2024—but don’t wait until the last minute! Recipients will be selected through a random draw held at the end of every month until then. Visit here to learn more about Foresters Renew, including eligibility requirements and the application process.
The bottom line
Remember, AI isn’t human. It’s simply programmed to perform a task. Unlike you, it has no empathy for others, no ability to connect on a personal, human level and absolutely no emotional intelligence.
But you do. You’ll outshine the machine every time by continuing to focus on developing human relationships and your capacity to empathize.
Because emotional intelligence is something AI will never master.
It really is only as smart as we are. We still hold all the cards, and the human spirit of creativity and imagination is just that—uniquely human. AI might provide inspiration, but humans will take it across the finish line every time.
SOURCES
1 https://executive.berkeley.edu/thought-leadership/blog/future-work-leadership-age-ai
FOOTNOTES
Foresters Renew is administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc.
2 Eligible members may apply subject to the eligibility criteria. No purchase necessary to apply. The total value of Foresters Renew grant benefits awarded to Foresters members and odds of receiving a Foresters Renew grant depend on number of applications received. Selection of members to receive the Foresters Renew grant is solely at the discretion of Foresters. Foresters assumes no liability for lost, late, misdirected or incomplete applications, submissions, notifications, or responses. Foresters reserves the right to modify or cancel this benefit or modify these rules at any time.
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423271 CAN/US (07/24)
