Home artificial intelligence How to be relevant in the age of AI : survival strategies

How to be relevant in the age of AI : survival strategies

May 2, 2024

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This article has been written by Kiran Kumari pursuing a Diploma in Content Marketing and Strategy course from Skill Arbitrage.

This article has been edited and published by Shashwat Kaushik.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Humans are busy making their lives easier and more convenient and trying to find quicker solutions using technologies. Technology is growing rapidly. We are living in the age of technology. If we don’t match our pace with it, then we will not only be left behind but also find it very difficult to survive and experience new and life-changing things. The era of artificial intelligence is here. In such a situation, it is the need of the hour to prepare ourselves or upgrade or upscale in this era of technology. The more we understand AI, the more it will make us experience something new and exciting. Surviving and thriving in the era of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution requires a combination of skills, adaptability and a strategic approach. If tech experts are to be believed, there are many methods by which we can prepare ourselves to live life smoothly and conveniently.

In this rapidly developing and fast growing era of AI, it is very essential to be relevant. There is a famous quote by Malcolm X “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” So what are the preparations that we as humans can do to thrive and survive in the upcoming age of “AI”? To begin with, let’s just start with a basic understanding of what AI is.

What is AI

Artificial Intelligence is a field of science and technology in which machines are designed in such a way that they can work like how a human brain works. Its objective is to develop programmes and systems that have the ability to think independently, learn, understand problems, and find solutions. AI machines or tools can produce output based on the data available on and around the internet. It then processes this information and provides an output which can be used to do further analysis. There are many sub-categories in AI such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, specialised computers, self-autonomous robotics, etc.

According to a report by Stanford University, in 1950, computing pioneer Alan Turing predicted that within a few decades, computers would mimic the human brain.

Artificial Intelligence was first introduced decades ago by John McCarthy, widely known as the “Father of Artificial Intelligence,” in 1956 at a conference at Dartmouth College. He defined AI as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines”.

How AI is impacting human lives

AI has the potential to impact our lives to a great extent. There are many advantages to it and there is a shift in people’s mindset to learn this new and evolving technology. Some of the advantages it has are increased accuracy and efficiency, quick decision-making, increased productivity, enhanced customer satisfaction and the creation of new job opportunities. AI is becoming an integral and important part of our lives and can revolutionise many industries, such as Entertainment, Medicine, telecommunications, etc. If we take the example of entertainment , there are a number of movies where AI was used as an essential part of the film. Some examples are I Robot, Matrix, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, etc. AI can create special effects, generate characters/ story lines and even produce an entire movie.

AI is the future and we have to accept it. But would it replace all the employment opportunities for humans?

Certainly No. Is there any way we can be relevant, survive and shine in the age of AI? Of course, yes. Let’s take a look at those strategies.

Strategies to remain relevant

Strategy 1: Learn how AI works and get acquainted with the latest advancements

To future proof our careers in the coming time, we must learn how AI works. Because AI can’t give results/ outcomes on its own. A human mind is responsible for giving it commands. The AI will only follow those commands. That means the initiating force for AI to work at its fullest is humans. So by knowing how to be smart, the career is safe.

Strategy 2: Develop skills to complement AI

There are certain skills AI needs to perform to its best capacity, as AI cannot work alone. Let’s take a look at those skills:

Analytical thinking and data analysis

AI tools can provide data but one has to develop skills to analyse that data and do data interpretation. These skills are essential to making informed and improved decisions that will provide optimum output.

Problem-solving skills

People who have a problem-solving attitude will be in high demand in the coming times, as these skills can save a lot of money and time for any kind of organisation. Problem-solving skills help people work more effectively with others.

Adaptability and learning agility

Adaptability is defined as the ability to adjust to new situations. In this age of AI, one should be flexible and adaptive about the methods and processes. One should always be willing to learn new technologies, methods and skills.

Collaboration and communication

One important skill is collaboration and communication. AI cannot fully replace human interaction. Industries that require emotional and personal intelligence, like sales, marketing, etc., will always need people who have great communication skills. The AI- powered chatbots can surely resolve the queries raised by customers but cannot add a personal touch to them. Communication skills will always result in better customer service.

The coming age will be more advanced, where collaboration between both human and AI team members is very much required. This includes keeping faith, having understanding between team members, keeping the goals very clear, focusing on the weaknesses and making sure that everyone is on the same page.

Emotional intelligence (EI)

As per the new Brandon Hall Group™ research brief, commissioned by EI Powered by MPS, “emotional intelligence enables collaboration, effective leadership, adaptability, better customer service and ethical decision-making. It provides solutions to potential issues arising from AI, such as job displacement and dehumanisation.”

AI can take over routine tasks and analytical tasks but will lack human empathy and emotions.

So to be more relevant, one has to try and acquire the above-mentioned skills. These skills complement AI-driven tools and technologies. AI will not take jobs but will produce more jobs than one can ever expect, provided we know how to use this for our own benefit.

Strategy 3: Grow the talent for decision-making, creativity and out of the box thinking.

We are all capable of making decisions for our lives, be they personal or professional. But the ones who excel in this area will be required in the coming age, as AI has the option to suggest decisions based on data trends/ patterns. Situational analysis, customer demand, emotional empathy and current trends are a few factors that must be considered while making decisions and AI cannot replace this requirement.

Let’s understand this through an example. A person has started his own handloom company, which sells good quality Chikankari kurtis online. He had to set its M.R.P. This person thought to take help from AI in deciding the price. So he asked AI tools to suggest a current market price for the Kurtis. AI suggested keeping the price at 1100 Rs. by looking at the price trend that is recently going on. He shared this information with his mother and asked her to make suggestions. Her suggestion was different from what AI suggested. She suggested keeping the price 20-30% lower than Rs. 1100, as there are other factors that should also be kept in mind. As his business was in its starting phase, he should first consider giving offers to customers and offering a price lower than the market price so as to get people’s attention. Once he gets people’s attention and recognition, he should increase the price. As people already have good experience with the material and the services, they can provide reviews so that others will also consider buying from his website.

The summary here is that AI can only provide statistics, trends, and patterns and can help take decisions by analysing situations, understanding contexts and taking decisions that require emotional intelligence, which an AI machine cannot do.

Similarly, creativity is one big art of the human mind. Say for example, that a sculptor, singer, social worker, painter, etc. are a few such examples that require high portions of the above mentioned qualities.

Strategy 4: Become a lifelong learner. AI is not for lazy people.

If a person is a learner, will definitely survive in the AI age. There is no doubt about it. The human mind does not easily adapt to changes, be it personal or professional. But change is certainly part of life. So the faster a person accepts a change and moves ahead in the learning path, the easier the transition will be.

So it is better we accept that AI is the new change that is going to happen and start learning things that accompany AI.

Conclusion

We must understand that AI will continue to shape industries and society for decades to come. We must develop a long-term vision for our careers in AI and be prepared to invest time and effort accordingly. Remember, that surviving and thriving in the AI revolution is an ongoing journey. Accept challenges, embrace change and be ready to evolve with technology. It is important to remain committed to learning, adaptability and a strong work ethic.