“Your job is not taken by AI, someone else takes it.” Who understands AI and knows how to use it? ”—Nikki Verdo
When San Francisco-based Open AI unveiled its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT on November 30, 2022, industry watchers knew a major disruption had arrived in the labor market. . Followers of developments in the field of digital technology are familiar with disruptive innovation, a term coined by Harvard University professor Clayton Christensen in 1995. In the book he states: Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technology Causes Big Companies to Go Bankrupt (1997), Professor Christensen delved deeply into ‘disruptive innovation’. Recently, there were reports that a student was using his ChatGPT for assignments. This app is perfect for submitting well-written papers on most subjects.
Recently, Harvard University has adopted artificial intelligence for some programs. The institution launched a “CS50 bot” similar to ChatGPT to improve the learning experience of students in coding classes and help instructors respond to student inquiries. Chatbots criticize students’ code designs and errors and help students develop problem-solving skills 24/7 (https://lnkd.in/ewzEYZMU)
Also in the United States, there is debate about the need to develop policies to guide the use of artificial intelligence in areas that may affect national security. The Brookings Center on Regulation and Markets and the AI, Analytics and Future of Work Initiative will meet at Georgetown University in Washington, DC on March 15, 2023 to examine the impact of AI and innovations such as ChatGPT on society. held. future of work. Speakers at the conference argued that artificial intelligence algorithms “either complement the capabilities of workers and increase their productivity, or undermine human employability altogether.” He further advised that understanding these trends is important for policy makers, business executives and employees.
PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears 2023 survey found that 52% of employees said AI would have a positive impact on their careers, 31% said it would make them more productive and efficient, and 27% said they create new skill development opportunities. , 21% believe there will be new job opportunities.
The World Economic Forum (WEF), in its 30 April 2023 Future of Jobs Report, highlighted, inter alia:
- Economic, health and geopolitical trends are producing mixed results in the labor market.
- Technology adoption will drive business transformation over the next five years.
- Significant labor disruptions are caused by environmental, technological and economic trends.
- Technology will have a net positive effect on employment over the next five years.
- The essential skills for 2023 are analytical and creative thinking.
- 44% of employee skills could be destroyed in the next five years
- 60% of workers will need training by 2027, but available training facilities may be inadequate.
Disruptive innovation has undoubtedly resulted in job losses, losses and even business model changes. Observers of these trends cite the disruptor of ride-hailing services as an example. uberUber’s launch happened to be an innovation born out of a difficult scenario faced by two San Francisco-based technologists. Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp, while traveling in Paris. It was winter and cold, so the taxi driver didn’t move until the passengers called him in. The two were unable to get a driver. So they locked themselves in the hotel. As they pondered their next move, they said: “What if you could tap your phone to request a ride?” That was it! This situation led him to develop one of the most effective ride-hailing services in the world.
Globally, traditional taxi-hailing services face significant competition and are facing a decline in ridership due to competition from Uber. They have replaced several taxi operators and accounted for a significant portion of the segment’s market share. According to 2020 stats, 93 million customers ride his Uber, his drivers are his 3.5 million, and his sales are $26.61 billion. With 22,800 employees worldwide, he has 12,400 outside the United States. Uber completes his 1.44 billion rides each quarter (https://backlinko.com/uber-users#). In Nigeria, there have been reports of brawls between airport taxi operators and operators of Uber and Bolt (another ride-hailing service established on August 3, 2013) at Abuja’s Nunamdi Azikiwe International Airport. . Most passengers prefer Uber and Bolt for cost-effectiveness, comfort and safety. Taxi operators have complained that ridership is declining as ride-hailing app operators enter the business arena.
A 2016 World Bank report estimated that 66.6% of jobs in developing countries could face job cuts due to digital innovation. The report shows that low-to-medium-skilled managers and routine jobs could be affected, with 40% of jobs in Nigeria likely to be affected by automation of work processes. (World Bank, 2016, p.23).
In 2018, the International Labor Organization (ILO) conducted a literature review of 255 studies on the future of work. In their founding report tagged “ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work”, they made some important findings regarding the future of work. The report suggested that the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) will focus on technological innovations such as AI, robotics, machine learning and analytics. The statement asserted that jobs could be lost or replaced by the introduction of automation, AI, robots and computerization, and that the introduction of these digital transformations could lead to job losses and workforce replacement. emphasized that there is The report further argued that digital technology will be an integral part of the future of work, stressing that job quality, for example, depends heavily on an employee’s ability to effectively use digital technology in the workplace.Some employees who lacked digital skills and could not work remotely lost their jobs during the COVID-19 lockdown
The 2019 COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the global economy, affecting aviation, logistics, commerce, travel and tourism, health, education and family life. Due to the contagious nature of the virus, governments around the world have introduced measures such as wearing masks, social distancing, and ultimately lockdowns to limit the spread of the virus. Many organizations have closed their offices for weeks or months. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued recommendations on measures countries should take to limit the spread of the pandemic. Airports were closed and domestic and international travel was restricted. The travel ban has hit the airline industry. A complete global lockdown has been put in place. In the midst of lockdowns and cross-border travel bans, digital technology has come to the rescue, resulting in remote work, the boom in online sales of goods and services, delivery services, home delivery services, real estate. Digital innovation has surged since COVID-19, transforming work culture, work specifications, and demographics.
A March 2023 World Economic Forum (WEF) report showed that 60% of the global workforce will need training in the next five years, depending on the nature of the work, expertise and experience . The report found that technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality (AR), big data and machine learning (ML) will play an important role in the labor market over the next five years. suggesting it will work. Year. All of the above makes it imperative for employees and job seekers to improve their digital skills in order to retain jobs and gain employability. Job retention and recruitment in modern organizations require essential digital skills. Digital technology disrupts standard work requirements and culture.
In the ongoing debate, experts say blockchain (BC) technology will cause structural disruption to the financial sector, impacting banking, accounting and insurance operations. there is Experts believe that digital transformation will also affect legal and translation services. Digital technologies create new opportunities for BC developers, Internet of Things (IoT) architects, cloud architects, big data, data analytics, AI, robotics, augmented reality (AR), machine learning, and deep learning .
New innovations are disrupting traditional business models and mechanisms as we know them. This article is therefore intended to keep job seekers and professionals abreast of these trends and to help them acquire skills relevant to the emerging changes in job requirements. I’m doing it. Disruptive innovation is nothing new. But the good news is that these disruptions will occur, and new opportunities will emerge in the process. Take Uber as an example, Uber created an income opportunity for young people. Every disruptive innovation creates new opportunities. Innovation born from ICT hubs scattered all over the country deserves attention. Digital innovation in the Fintech sector has created numerous job opportunities and simplified cross-border payments.organizations such as Flutterwave, Accelerex, E-transact, Remita, Interswitch, Paystack, Paga, Piggyvest, Kuda, OPay Other companies have taken risks to disrupt traditional business models and step onto the global fintech map. Disruptive innovation is not a bad thing, but it is the result of harnessing human ingenuity to bring about change. Therefore, people need to strengthen their knowledge to embrace disruptive change.
Mr. Ojobo, former Communications Director of the Nigerian Communications Commission, writes from Abuja.
