Automation does not mean exclusion: AI’s role in job security

Despite widespread acceptance of technologies such as video conferencing and messaging platforms adopted during mandatory remote work, some workers remain wary of workforce technology. Only 50% of his employees see technology as a powerful asset for efficiency, according to a new survey.

IT teams are now driving the implementation of technology innovations in their organizations, and IT optimization is expected to be the third largest AI use case by 2025, with an annual growth rate of 29.7%. But with popular culture spreading doom and gloom around the role of AI in employment, does this mean that IT teams should be concerned about job security? Will it be another victim of erosion?

A common employee response to AI is that machine learning (ML) eliminates the need for IT teams because it can deliver their primary objectives in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. Fear of automation is not a new concept. His 37% of workers are now worried about losing their jobs due to automation.

Automation and unemployment are not synonymous

But they can rest in peace. The truth is that automation will not lead to unemployment as we think. It may be the other way around. South Korea, the world’s most automated country, hit a record low unemployment in August 2022. Her two most automated countries, Singapore and Japan, are also well below the global average, demonstrating increased automation and automation. Unemployment rates are not directly correlated.

How can you explain the discrepancy between perception and reality? It’s not unemployment. It’s the evolution of work. Automation allows IT teams to carve out a more strategic place within their organization. AI can play a big role in reducing the amount of routine tasks that must be completed manually, such as troubleshooting applications and responding to service tickets.

The less time your team spends on these things, the more time you have on projects that move the needle within your organization, such as developing new applications that enable your company to reach new markets, improve manageability, and reduce hardware costs. can be spent. These role changes make these employees feel more fulfilled and purposeful within the organization and are seen as more valuable assets.

The question is, “How do we get there?”

The value of AI in IT

IT cannot be fully automated. Employees seek out human interaction to feel that their issues have been heard and that support is personalized to them. IT employees need to leverage their greatest strengths: interpersonal communication and long-term strategy/innovation. These are two concepts that AI can never reproduce.

The true value of AI is that it proactively identifies problems, helps IT teams attack problems before they occur, and provides actionable insights that IT teams can leverage to optimize their systems for long-term performance. Ability.

One goal of AI is to improve the digital experience of employees. Employees lose working hours due to technology issues, and these issues also reduce morale when employees feel they are undersupported by the company.

Automation alleviates this. Save time and resources by detecting issues before employees flag them. As a result, employees feel more connected to the organization. In the long run, this helps slow employee turnover and support innovation. This in turn helps explain the drop in unemployment amid automation.

So where are the IT teams going? The answer lies in strategy sessions with their senior executives. The days of responding to service requests as IT’s primary responsibility are increasingly distant. With more free time, you can focus on proactive activities and strategies for better workflow. Automation paves the way for IT to be seen as a strategic leader rather than an ad hoc technical problem. They drive organizations forward and digital transformation initiatives forward.

embrace change

AI is not a threat to IT teams. Instead, you can better demonstrate your value and importance within your organization. As difficult economic times continue to loom large, business leaders are considering where to cut costs. Unfortunately, some enact layoffs.

However, teams that can demonstrate value to the organization and its bottom line may do better when it comes to those decisions.Instead of viewing AI as a threat, IT professionals should view it as their new favorite colleague. . IT professionals should be viewed as freeing themselves from mundane tasks to focus on what matters most and allow them to grow within their companies.

AI does not eliminate the role of IT. it transforms it. Both the IT department and the organization as a whole benefit.

Yassine Zaied is Nextthink’s Chief Strategy Officer.