How AI Can Enhance—Not Hurt—Careers

By Dennis McCafferty | Posted 2017-09-25

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How AI Can Enhance—Not Hurt—Careers

Can man and machine get along? Apparently, they can, as artificial intelligence is expected to take off—but not necessarily at the expense of employees' careers.
Immediate Timeframe

82% of the global senior executives surveyed said their organization plans to implement artificial intelligence (AI) technology within the next three years.
Top Anticipated Benefits of AI

Reduced costs: 45%, Improved processes and efficiencies: 35%, Better customer experiences and services: 29%
AI Gap: Defining Moment, Part I

96% of executives at "AI leader" companies expect this technology to transform the role of the workforce in their organization within three years, compared to only 36% of those at "laggard" companies who agree.
AI Gap: Defining Moment, Part II

89% of those at AI leaders anticipate that AI will transform their organization's corporate culture, but just 31% of those at laggards predict this.
AI Gap: People Power

88% of executives at AI leaders expect that AI will allow their company to devote human efforts to more complex activities, while only 38% of those at laggards believe this will be the case.
AI Gap: Making Friends

79% of those at AI leaders believe that, within three years, employees will be comfortable working with robots, compared to just 26% of those at laggards who feel this way.
AI Gap: Inspirational Spark

76% of executives at AI leaders predict that AI will eventually be applied to creative work—not just mass automation—but only 34% of those at laggards agree.
AI Gap: Budget Support

71% of those at AI leaders said their company allocates sufficient resources and funding to AI, while just 9% of those at laggards said this is happening at their organization.
AI Gap: Helping Hand

68% of executives at AI leaders said their organization helps senior management understand AI benefits, but only 7% of those at laggards said their company does this.
AI Gap: Do-Over

64% of those at AI leaders said their company provides employees with reskilling options, while just 24% of those at laggards said they provide this.
AI Gap: Fresh Ideas

59% of executives at AI leaders said their organization encourages middle managers to think outside the box and innovate, but only 13% of those at laggards said their company encourages this.
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There's a lot of debate about whether artificial intelligence (AI) will become a major threat to the livelihood of employees. After all, the argument goes, Why pay someone to do something that a machine will do for free? However, a recent survey from Genpact conveys a more encouraging and collaborative picture of the near future. The "Is Your Business AI-Ready?" report reveals that, with the vast majority of companies planning to adopt AI, the workforce will be transformed. The report categorizes companies as either "AI leaders" or "AI laggards," and states that organizations that excel at deriving business value from AI will take advantage of the technology to allow employees to spend more time on complex activities. These leading companies also anticipate that their staffers will be comfortable working with these machines, and that the AI devices will even support creative needs. What's more, AI leaders are helping their teams prepare for the coming changes by offering employee reskilling options. "The theme of 'robots versus humans' is a staple of science fiction, and how humans will cope when the cyborgs arrive has always been a concern of socially transformative technology," according to the report. "The key factor to keep in mind, however, is the potential of human and artificial intelligence to create combined systems and ways of collaboration that are smarter than either one alone." An estimated 300 global senior executives took part in the research, which was conducted by the Fortune Knowledge Group.

Dennis McCafferty is a freelance writer for Baseline Magazine.