As I sat down to discuss with a group of colleagues, I couldn’t help but notice the mixed emotions in the room. Some were excited, some were skeptical, others were incredibly scary. Discussion topic? The impact of AI and technology on the future of work.
One of them, Gen X, has expressed concern about the rapid rise in automation. “Do you still have work?” he asked. The millennials in the room responded immediately. “AI is here to improve our capabilities rather than replace us. It’s an opportunity to master and reskill.”
This conversation made me think. What will the future of work hold and how can you prepare it?
Various generations, AI, technology
When it comes to AI and technology, different generations have different perspectives. Born between 1946 and 1964, the baby boomer generation is often hesitant to adopt new technologies. However, they recognize the benefits of AI in improving efficiency and productivity, but are skeptical of adoption. AI and technology seem to be no major challenge for them as they are slowly leaving the workplace.
Born between 1965 and 1980, Gen X appears to be open to the adoption of new technologies. They see technology as a way to improve work-life balance and increase productivity. But they don’t understand how it works, but they are receptive in training. They understand that these technologies are needed, but they are worried that emerging AI might take away their jobs.
Born between 1981 and 1996, millennials are digital natives who grew up on the Internet and smartphones. They view AI as a tool to enhance their lives and improve their work experience, especially in workplaces with little restrictions.
Born between 1997 and 2012, for Gen Z, they are true digital natives born from AI and technology. They see AI as a normal part of life, and are even founders and creators of these tools.
Mentorship and training needs
As AI and technology become more and more staying, and already transforming the workplace, there is an increasing need for instruction and training. Companies need to invest in training programs that will help employees, especially older generations, develop the skills they need to work effectively.
Additionally, there is a need for mentorship programs that combine older and younger generations. This helps older generations learn from the younger generations and develop the skills they need to thrive in the rapidly changing workplace. This also reduces the fear that AI will take on their job.
For example, companies like IBM and Microsoft have already invested in mentorship programs that combine older and younger generations. These programs will help you bridge the gaps between different generations and ensure that everyone has the skills needed to succeed.
Tools that can help you increase your productivity in the workplace include:
Content creation
Jasper: A powerful AI content creation platform with numerous templates and internet research capabilities.
AnyWord: Marketers can help create content by breaking the generation process into steps, such as generating titles and creating outlines.
ChatGpt: Provides research and content processing solutions.
Text enhancement
Grammarly: A complete solution for spell and structure checking, tone adjustments, and phrase simplification. It can also be used to check for plagiarism.
WordTune: Helps you find alternative language to improve your text, such as synonyms, sentence rewriting, and tone adaptation.
ProWritingAid: Provides grammar, style and spelling score with lifetime plan options.
Image generation
Dall・E 3: Image generator by Openai, produces interesting results from text prompts.
Midjourney: Impressive image generation capabilities, even with complex prompts.
Impression: Excellent at generating accurate text within images and provides an image editor for additional aesthetic controls.
Social Media Management
Feedb: Includes AI-powered content recycling capabilities to reuse existing content.
Vista Social: acts as a hub for social media management, gathering all channels in one location and providing AI tools for content reuse.
Canva: An all-in-one template for graphic design. This is especially useful for beginners in design.
Video generation and editing
Runway: Video Magic Tools with AI are features for video generation, model training and frame painting.
Description: Transcribe videos into scripts, allowing text-based editing and automatic video cropping.
Wondershare Filmora: Provides AI features for background removal, removal and sound quality improvement.
Benefits of corporate and individual recruitment
For businesses, adopting AI and technology offers many benefits. It can increase efficiency, improve decision-making, and improve customer experience. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can provide 24/7 customer support to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.
For example, companies like Domino’s Pizza use AI-powered chatbots to order and provide customer support. This not only increased customer satisfaction, but also reduced workloads for human customer support agents. These tools are not available only to large companies. The AI customer support tool is Replyii.ai. It is built to support small businesses as well.
An interesting thing about these tools is to bridge the gap between organizations with deep pockets and those with low budgets.
Furthermore, companies that employ AI and technology can gain more competitiveness than their rivals. According to a report by McKinsey, companies that employ AI and automation can increase productivity by up to 40%. There are AI tools like ChatGpt and Gemini that make research and other administrative tasks faster. It is also an AI tool used to generate images. These are tools that will improve your office communication, such as Slack, WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
For individuals, adopting AI and technology can also provide many benefits. It can provide opportunities for expansion and reskilling, increasing employment potential and career prospects. AI-powered tools can automate everyday tasks and free up time for individuals to concentrate on high-value tasks and projects.
For example, LinkedIn’s AI-powered learning platform helps experts develop new skills and increase career prospects.
Furthermore, adopting AI and technology can improve work-life balance. The rise of remote work and flexible scheduling allow individuals to have more control over their work environment and schedules.
The future of work
So, what will the future of work hold? About a decade ago, the World Economic Forum and others estimated that around 65% of children enrolled in primary schools today would work in jobs that do not currently exist. This is due to constant advances in technology and automation, leading to the emergence of new industries and employment roles, but some existing industries could become outdated.
The paintings depicted are from a turbulent economy, but technological advances create opportunities and at the same time replace traditional roles.
The future of work is uncertain, but one thing is clear. It’s about AI and technology staying here. By adopting AI and technology, businesses and individuals can enjoy many benefits, from increasing efficiency and productivity to improving work-life balance and career outlook.
Furthermore, by investing in mentorship and training programs, companies can bridge gaps between different generations and ensure the skills needed for everyone to survive in this age of technology and AI. The future belongs to those who prepare it.
•Lawal is a veteran HR professional, consultant, certified coach and trainer. She empowers individuals and organizations through value-added workplace training, leadership coaching and customized guidance. She can contact us via email (email protection)
