Will AI Really Take Your Job? The Truth About AI and Job Loss

They say that opinions are like a specific body part, and everyone has one.

This belief seems true when it comes to artificial intelligence, especially with the rise of ChatGPT and other AI tools. AI systems have gone from being something for nerds to something that people chat about at office watercoolers or around the dinner table.

Whether you realize it or not, you’ve interacted with AI today. It’s used to boost productivity, predict your weather forecasts, and make Netflix recommendations. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are also taking on the tasks that were once exclusively the domain of us mere mortals.

The Fear of Machines: From Luddites to AI Skeptics

In England during the early 19th century, there was a movement of textile workers called Luddites who didn’t take too kindly to new-fangled machines taking their jobs. Over five years, between 1811 and 1816, the Luddites protested against manufacturers and often broke into their factories and destroyed their machines until the movement was suppressed by military force. 

The Luddites eventually lent their name to a slang term for people who oppose new technologies, and there’s been a vast Luddite resurgence over the last five years or so. You’ll have heard them talking in bars and see them posting on social networks.

And they always seem to be saying the same thing: “AI is going to take my job.”

However, they fail to realize that the job market continues to evolve with the rise of AI, like Generative AI tools and Machine Learning. These technologies aren’t just about replacing many jobs—they also create new jobs and opportunities. 

If you’re one of those Luddites, I’ve got news for you.

Change WILL Happen

It’s time for you to take control. There’s no point in talking about whether AI will take over your job or how it’s not going to be good for you. You can’t change things or stop the relentless march of progress. AI is coming with or without your support.

The Luddites weren’t able to stop mechanization from coming to the textiles industry—or to any other industry, for that matter. And there’s another historical precedent for technology taking jobs.

According to a 2015 paper by Harvard economist James Bessen, only one of the 270 detailed occupations from the 1950 US Census had been lost to automation. That job? Elevator operator.

Elevators had mainly been automated for years by the time of that census. The only reason elevator operators still existed was because people were hesitant to get into an elevator if there was no one else in it. Over time, we got used to it, just like we’ll get used to self-driving cars.

So, certain jobs won’t be replaced by AI. However, you can learn to use AI to your advantage and free yourself from mundane tasks—because many jobs require a human touch that AI can’t replicate.

AI for Interviews

I was speaking to someone recently who was complaining that her daughter had an AI interview. She went on to say that a lot of recruiters don’t have jobs available, and she doesn’t see how AI capabilities can interview.

What she didn’t realize is that one-way video interviews aren’t new. I’ve been doing them for over ten years, kicking them off in 2013. There are a lot of benefits to them, including:

  1. You get to give more candidates an opportunity to sell themselves, especially those at the entry-level, and to have an “at bat.”
  2. Every candidate gets asked the same questions, so you don’t end up going down a rabbit hole based on your similar likes and interests.
  3. They reduce the likelihood of interviewer bias because more people will see the video interview and decide whether the person in question moves forward.

I’m sure there are more benefits that I haven’t thought of, but most of them come from the fact that multiple people are screening each prospect. Everyone has their idea of what they’re looking for and what the company needs. However, when multiple people are involved in the process, they stand a better chance of coming up with the best possible aggregate whole.

We can see this in action with that classic game where people are asked to guess how many pieces of candy are in a jar. When we ask enough people, while there are plenty of people who guess too high or too low, if we take the median, they get surprisingly close to the actual figure.

Andrew King from the UK’s Royal Veterinary College asked people to guess the number of pieces of candy in a jar at his university’s open day. Eighty-two people took part, and when he took the median of their guesses, he came out at 751. The actual answer was only one digit off at 752.

The point here is that the crowd has wisdom. AI-powered video interviews could help recruiters tap into that wisdom instead of relying on recruiter bias and hoping for the best. In this age of AI, AI might not only create new efficiencies in the hiring process but also introduce something that could lead to better hiring decisions, which cannot be easily achieved through traditional methods.

Frequently Asked Questions: Is AI Really Going to Take Your Job?

Will AI take my job?

AI could automate certain tasks, but it’s a fact that AI won’t completely replace your jobs. Job losses may occur in some sectors, but new roles will emerge as AI technologies develop. So, “No, AI isn’t going to take your job. Someone that knows how to use AI will.”

How can AI impact my current job?

AI and machine learning can help improve productivity and efficiency without the need for humans. Some jobs, like customer service representative, may be automated using chatbots, while a million jobs will evolve with augmentation from AI models. 

Why use AI in the workplace?

AI excels in enhancing productivity and accuracy and allows employees to focus on more strategic tasks. Complex tasks and processes are now more streamlined effectively with AI.

Will AI augmentation cause job losses?

While job losses can occur, AI also creates opportunities. The level of this shift’s pain depends on our ability as stakeholders to strive for the most ethical approach to AI work and avoid leaving marginalized labor behind.

What’s Next? Preparing For The Future Of Work

Many experts believe that AI will replace certain white-collar jobs within the next five to ten years. So, the idea of AI to create more efficient processes isn’t going away, no matter what the Luddites might like you to believe.

And while it dehumanizes the process, that has the potential to be a good thing. Hiring bias exists and is arguably a bigger threat to our profession than AI. Unfortunately, algorithmic bias exists, too.

The best thing to do is get up to speed! Figure out how to use generative AI to create more value in your products and services and become better at work. The goal should always be to match or lead your profession, even if some tasks are affected by AI.

I’ll be sharing more thoughts on AI and the recruitment industry in the coming weeks and months, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled on LinkedIn for more. I’ll see you soon!

REVOLUTIONIZING YOUR RECRUITING METHODS
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