31/01/2024
Is 2024 the year we will see an aggressive infusion of AI into the workforce? Is this the year human workers should seriously start considering pivoting to other career fields? Are the machines finally here with us?
Artificial intelligence, Big Data, Machine Learning, Business intelligence analysis, Information security analyst, Renewable energy analyst, sustainability Engineering, Sustainability coding, Devops, Prompt Engineering, Data Engineering, etc.
The above are some of the new roles being sold to us as the new generational roles or jobs of the 3.5th /4th Industrial era. Interestingly, these roles are already being worked as though they have been with us for many years. It's on that basis I concluded that this is only the first phase of the transition. I am almost sure that the current transition or phase will be a very short one, as some organizations are already pushing for this.
Generative AI, which I consider to be the 1.5 phase served as the catalyst charging us into phase II. This is partly to be blamed for the current layoff. Companies are deriving some value from its use and are pushing for more. This is rapidly leading us to the phase two.
The second phase of the AI revolution and its continuous integration into daily operations will demand more from workers. A single knowledge area in the field would no longer be enough just as coding is no longer enough. Full end-to-end knowledge plus expertise in the core niche area would be required. We had sparks of these in phase I. Examples are MLOPs, DevOps, etc.
The key factors in phase II would be maximum value creation from the combination of AI technology and niche market. This is expected to yield maximum ROI. Workers without the skill set to fit into this philosophy would either be axed if already in or locked out of the market.
Authentic value can only come from a confluence of multi-knowledge and technology know-how. This will be a top priority in the skill search process, especially on the offensive side or roles. On the defensive side, new roles such as Fake detection engineers may also pop. The abyss of “FAKE” is about to be enlarged and out of control.
So in conclusion I ask, could the mass lay-off happening in 2024 be a pruning method to allow those with these skills to come?
