Will artificial intelligence take your job?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the new spectre of our working world - a technology that, it seems, is shaking our foundations. Similar to discussions about the industrial revolution or the introduction of the internet, many are asking themselves: "Will AI take my job?" It's an understandable fear, as nothing causes greater uncertainty than an uncertain future defined by huge technological advances.
It is important to remember that we already live in a world that has been fundamentally changed by technological transformations - and not for the first time. Industrialization brought steam hammers and conveyor belts to the world of work, making many jobs obsolete, but also creating new occupational fields. The digital revolution, in turn, made the "knowledge society" a concept and changed the focus from muscle power to mental work. In this respect, AI is just the next step - and a step that is much faster than any of the previous ones.
Creative destruction
Joseph Schumpeter coined the term "creative destruction" to describe how innovation destroys the old while creating the new. Many jobs will be done more efficiently through AI, but it is crucial to understand that how society and individuals respond to these changes is of great importance. History shows that we adapt to technological disruption, create new roles and develop new skills.
It is precisely in these times of transition that the creative class takes center stage. The ability to think beyond existing structures, to focus not just on efficiency but on innovation, will be essential in the new world. Creativity, as we learn from the history of innovation, is the driving force of transformation. AI may be able to perform analytical tasks faster than humans, but it lacks the ability to create the unexpected. Creative work based on ideas and inventions therefore remains human.
Change of shed
An interesting point in this debate is the "shed change" that every society goes through when a new technological revolution takes hold. Wolf Lotter describes how the industrial society changed into a knowledge society, how old value creation structures lost importance and were replaced by new ones. The same is happening now: The era of pure knowledge work is reaching its limits. It will no longer be enough just to process information - it will be more a matter of linking it in a meaningful way, developing new solutions and answering ethical questions.
How we deal with the far-reaching changes in the world of work is crucial. Personal responsibility, the willingness to develop one's own skills and reflection on change are of great importance. Those who refuse to embrace change will find the increasing complexity threatening. This complexity harbors risks, but also opportunities.
More than just automation
AI will not "take our jobs away". It will do the work for us - and that makes a big difference.
The right questions are therefore: How do we use the freed-up capacities? What new professional fields will emerge? How can we use the newly gained time and energy wisely to focus on what AI cannot do? Creativity, empathy, strategic thinking?
The greatest danger is to believe that everything can remain as it is. There is no stability in a world that is constantly changing. Anyone who still hopes that their job will remain untouched is mistaken. But that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Change challenges us to redefine our role. Those who embrace this challenge will be able to reap the benefits of AI instead of being overrun by it. The courage to change, the will to innovate and the pursuit of self-realization are the keys that will open up the future for us.
AI does not mark the end of work, but the opportunity to reshape work. We should seize this opportunity.