Growing Alliance: Humans Are Increasingly Embracing AI as Workforce Partner
The 11th commandment? Vatican comes out with a guide on AI ethics.
The landscape of employment continued to be altered to a degree last week, with some job roles further succumbing to the transformative powers of artificial intelligence (AI). Simultaneously, however, there was a surge in demand for skilled individuals in the field of AI itself in some parts!
What’s more, a look around the world shows that more and more humans have started relying on AI to get their job done. There’s even a case of an AI tool coaching humans on career skills!
Yet, amidst this flux, the burning question lingers: Seven months after the introduction of ChatGPT, is AI gobbling up jobs as rapidly, and to the degree as predicted? There’s no clear answer to that one yet.
That also explains the large number of surveys that continue to be undertaken by various agencies to understand the impact of AI on various industries (some of which you will find reported in this edition).
Join us in this edition as we report the latest developments on the global job front, the impact of automation and AI on employment, and of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
#AI@Work: Tracking the Changing Workforce Landscape
But before we go ahead, let’s take a look at this week’s “AI Job Impact Indicator”.
In Today’s Newsletter:
#German Tabloid Considers Replacing 100 Editorial Positions with AI
#Wary Marketers Watch From Sidelines the March of AI
#Surprising: Top Executives See Generative AI as a Catalyst for Workforce Expansion
#AI Training Program Launched by Infosys
#Surge in AI-related Job Postings in the US During May
#PwC Study Shows Unspecialized Workers Unhappy, Some Want to Quit
#Generative AI's Reach: Nearly 40% of Jobs in the UK Face Potential Impact
#IBM’s HR team saved 12,000 hours in 18 months After Using AI
#Survey Shows AI is Top Priority For Majority of Companies Surveyed
#Middle East Workers Are Gung Ho About AI
#Hexaware Promises to Hire More Humans This Year Despite AI
#Wow. Generative AI Tool Offers Career Coaching to Humans
#UK Govt to Pump in Millions to Accelerate Use of AI Tools in National Health Service
#Essays By Experts Illuminate the Dynamic Landscape of AI's Opportunities and Challenges
#Study Unveils Unexpected Revelation: Professionals Entrust AI Training Tasks to... AI!
#Vatican Comes Out With a Guide on AI Ethics
German Tabloid May Drop 100 Editorial Positions and Bring in AI
According to a leaked email initially obtained by the German publication Frankfurter Allgemeine (FAZ), “Bild”, the German tabloid owned by prominent European publishing company Axel Springer, is set to replace more than a hundred human editorial positions with artificial intelligence.
The email, which was reported by FAZ and translated by The Guardian, states that the tabloid will be bidding farewell to colleagues whose responsibilities can now be fulfilled by AI or automated processes in the digital realm.
Source: futurism.com
Marketers Wait and Watch the Onward March of AI
Generative AI, a technology capable of autonomously creating content, has found applications in the advertising industry, streamlining tasks and reducing workloads.
But marketers harbor concerns about its potential impact on their careers and the looming prospect of being replaced by this technology. The fear of job displacement weighs heavily on their minds as they grapple with the future of their profession, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
Despite the undeniable benefits that generative AI brings, such as its capacity to generate advertising materials and alleviate mundane responsibilities, marketers remain uncertain. They ponder when this technology will advance to the point where it can fully supplant human marketers. For now, though, the burning question of how soon generative AI will encroach upon their jobs remains unanswered.
This dilemma is not exclusive to the advertising industry, as automation and artificial intelligence have already disrupted numerous sectors. While leveraging generative AI offers advantages like heightened efficiency and cost-effectiveness, the potential consequences for human workers cannot be overlooked. Marketers find themselves caught in the throes of uncertainty concerning their professional future and how to adapt to the evolving landscape of their industry.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Challenging the Narrative: C-Suite's Optimistic Outlook on Generative AI and Job Creation
Amidst the prevalent "doom and gloom" headlines forecasting workforce downsizing caused by generative AI, an intriguing and contrasting perspective emerges from a survey of the C-suite by the freelancing platform “Upwork”.
Rather than perceiving it as a threat, top honchos said they viewed generative AI as a compelling reason to expand their workforce. This unexpected viewpoint challenges prevailing narratives and highlights a belief in the potential of AI to create new employment opportunities.
The Upwork survey of 1400 US business leaders across various industries to understand the early impact of generative AI on businesses, revealed a disconnect in the adoption of generative AI among workforce leaders.
Interestingly, despite the prevalence of headlines predicting downsizing due to generative AI, the C-suite saw it as a reason to hire. In fact, 64% of C-suite respondents stated that they would hire more professionals of all types as a result of generative AI, marking the highest level of agreement among those surveyed.
This contradicts the notion that AI will replace human workers and instead suggests that it will augment their capabilities.
However, there was a discrepancy between the views of the C-suite and their leadership teams regarding the adoption of generative AI. While 73% of C-suite executives claimed that their company embraced generative AI, only 54% of VPs, 52% of directors, and 53% of senior managers shared the same sentiment. This disconnect suggests a lack of alignment within organizations about the use and integration of generative AI.
What was of even more interest was that the survey found that companies that prioritized remote work were more likely to embrace generative AI.
68% of full-time remote companies reported actively embracing generative AI, compared to only 53% of companies that primarily work in physical offices. This suggests that the flexibility and digital nature of remote work may create an environment that is more conducive to the adoption of AI technologies.
Source: emergingtechbrew.com
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AI Certificate Training Program by Infosys
The Development: Indian IT multinational company Infosys has done something that few others have. It recently launched a complimentary certification training program in artificial intelligence (AI) to support learners in advancing their careers and acquiring the necessary skills for their desired job roles.
The Details: The program, available on the Infosys Springboard Virtual Learning Platform, offers various free AI certifications along with a range of other valuable resources. Among the courses provided, there is an introductory course on AI and Generative AI, emphasizing deep learning and natural language processing. Additionally, a master class on AI and the impact of Generative AI is also included.
The curriculum of these courses benefits from the expertise of Infosys' AI-first specialists and data strategists responsible for delivering Infosys Topaz AI-first services, solutions, and platforms. Their knowledge ensures that students are well-prepared for the future.
The certification program encompasses a wide range of courses covering various AI-related topics. Students can gain an introduction to AI and Generative AI, with a focus on deep learning and natural language processing. Furthermore, a seminar exploring the implications of Generative AI is also part of the program.
What Does It Mean: Other companies must emulate Infosys to help their workforce be aware of AI, and understand how it can help them in their jobs. No point in fighting AI.
Source: Analytics Insight
AI-related Job Postings Were Up in US in May
Recent data from the job portal “Indeed” showed a notable 20% increase in job postings related to generative AI in the United States last month. This surge is a clear indication of companies' growing interest in harnessing this transformative technology, which is widely recognized as a key driver of future growth.
The figure for May, reaching 204 postings per million, not only surpassed last year's levels but also more than doubled, underscoring the immense excitement surrounding AI.
The remarkable success of OpenAI's ChatGPT has significantly contributed to the enthusiasm within this field, said the report. Job roles such as data scientist, software engineer, machine learning engineer, and data engineer were in high demand, collectively accounting for a substantial portion of the AI job postings on Indeed's platform in the United States.
Source: Business World
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AI Or No AI, We Still Want to Quit
The AI tiger may be out there prowling for your job, but one category of workers still wants to quit their jobs.
New data from PwC showed there was a shift in job dissatisfaction from specialized workers to unspecialized workers within the corporate hierarchy.
The study revealed that 26% of unspecialized office workers, including administrative assistants, were actively seeking job changes in the coming year, marking an increase from 19% in the previous year. Moreover, nearly one in five respondents reported taking on additional jobs to supplement their income, often out of necessity rather than a desire to acquire new skills. The economic strain was found to be particularly burdensome for minority groups.
Source: The Business Standard
About 40% of Jobs in UK May See Some Impact From Generative AI
The News: Despite the growing debate around the impact of generative AI technology on global workforces, according to an analysis by KPMG, the “Big Four” tech giants claimed that many verticals – including hospitality, retail, marketing and law – were currently not set to be hit by a swathe of job losses.
The Details: In fact, creative occupations like content and photography were expected to be among the most affected by generative AI technologies.
Generative AI had the potential to significantly boost productivity in the UK economy, adding £31 billion to GDP. According to the KPMG analysis, around 2.5% of tasks could be performed by generative AI. The wider implications of generative AI on the economy and society, however, were uncertain, and caution should be exercised by regulators and policymakers.
The report further said while job losses were not expected to be significant, there may be short-term skill mismatches as the labor market adjusts to the new technology.
What Does It Really Mean: It will take time for generative AI to be adopted across the economy, and changes to work practices may occur in certain occupations very quickly and slower in other cases. Nonetheless, if used responsibly, generative AI could add substantial benefits by removing repetitive tasks, saving time and money for both individuals and businesses. Creative occupations, though, were the most affected by generative AI.
Source: KPMG
Over 12,000 Hours Saved Using AI by IBM HR in 18 Months
The News: IBM’s HR team saved 12,000 hours in 18 months after using AI to automate 280 tasks.
The Details: IBM is actively embracing the integration of AI into its operations, with a focus on addressing uniquely human challenges. A senior IBM executive was quoted as saying that AI had empowered employees to move away from administrative tasks and concentrate on more nuanced work that required a human touch.
By harnessing the power of AI, workers could easily access information regarding vacation policies or other inquiries, saving time and enabling managers to invest in coaching and fostering career progression.
IBM CEO Arvind Krishna asserted that AI liberated employees to tackle higher-value tasks, leading to notable time savings in the HR department, which had automated previously manual processes, resulting in approximately 12,000 hours saved in the past 18 months.
What Does It Mean: After creative jobs, AI is expected to take over the manual tasks done in call centers, customer service and HR. That’s turning out to be true, as in the case of IBM. So while there will be a degree of job loss, this “liberation” will allow teams to focus on more intricate work requiring a human touch. AI can alleviate mundane tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more valuable work.
Source: Fortune
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CNBC Survey Shows AI is Top Priority For Majority of Companies Surveyed
Nothing new in this survey. The latest bi-annual survey conducted by the CNBC Technology Executive Council showed that nearly half of the companies surveyed (47%) considered AI as their top priority for technology spending in the upcoming year.
Moreover, AI budgets surpassed the second-largest spending area in technology, cloud computing, by more than double, with a 21% allocation. The survey had responses from top technology executives, including chief information officers, chief technology officers, and chief information security officers, from various sectors such as marketing, pharmaceuticals, telecom, and utilities, as well as public sector entities.
The CNBC survey, conducted between May 15 and June 20, 2023, provides insights into the current landscape of AI adoption and technology investment trends.
Source: cnbc.com
Middle East Workers Gung Ho About AI
A recent report by PwC highlights the positive outlook of workers in the Middle East regarding the future of AI in the workplace.
The report, titled, “The 2023 Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey”, conducted by PwC Middle East, gathered insights from 1,563 respondents in the region, including individuals from KSA, UAE, Egypt, and Qatar. This survey is part of a global initiative that involves 54,000 participants from 46 countries.
For the fourth consecutive year, the PwC Survey captures the sentiments of the workforce across the region. It reveals three key themes:
Upskilling for Success: Individuals recognize the need to enhance and refine their skills to thrive in their jobs over the next five years. They understand that upskilling is crucial to unlock the future of work.
Excitement around AI: There is a notable level of excitement surrounding AI, indicating the workforce's positive perception of its potential impact.
Autonomy and job satisfaction: Respondents express a strong desire for increased autonomy and job satisfaction, reflecting their aspirations for fulfilling and engaging work experiences.
The Importance of Upskilling
In the face of transformative changes across the Middle East, employees understand the vital link between upskilling and future job success. Within the region, 52% of surveyed individuals (compared to the global average of 36%) believe their jobs will undergo significant changes in the next five years, necessitating the acquisition of new skills and capabilities. Furthermore, 61% of respondents claim to possess a clear understanding of how their skills are expected to evolve.
Source: arabianbusinessnews.com
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One Company Promises to Hire More Humans Despite AI
Hexaware Technologies has ambitious plans to recruit 5,000-6,000 experienced professionals this year, with a specific focus on individuals skilled in data, digital engineering, application development, cloud infrastructure, and Java full-stack.
According to Senthil Nayagam K, EVP of Global Revenue Assurance and Chief Learning Officer at Hexaware Technologies, there was a shift in the hiring landscape, where new employees were now more likely to show up for their job compared to before. Previously, there was a random chance that candidates would explore multiple job opportunities, but this situation has improved.
The EVP explained that amidst market volatility and limited hiring by many companies, Hexaware stood out by continuing to hire a significant number of professionals.
Source: trak.in
What a Paradox! Generative AI Tool to Offer Career Coaching to Humans
In a quest to reach an even broader audience, “CareerVillage” is exploring the utilization of generative AI to offer interactive career coaching.
Collaborating with a coalition of nonprofits, CareerVillage has developed an AI career coach called "Coach" to assist users in various career-related tasks such as resume and cover letter drafting, job description interpretation, career exploration, and mock job interviews. Coach is set to undergo closed beta testing during the summer, with CareerVillage and its partner nonprofits planning to gather feedback from users, educators, parents, and other stakeholders. Based on the feedback received, they will then commence work on a public version of the AI bot in the upcoming fall.
The coalition supporting Coach includes reputable organizations like Year Up, renowned for its job training program, as well as AVID, Mentor California, and the San Francisco Unified School District. This collaborative effort ensures that the AI bot has been equipped with a wealth of reliable career information sourced from existing documents and datasets of member groups. This robust foundation of high-quality content minimizes the likelihood of Coach providing faulty advice and ensures that it can offer relevant resource links to users during their interactions.
Source: Fast Company
UK Govt to Pump in Millions to Accelerate Use of AI Tools in National Health Service
The UK Government has announced a commitment of £21 million ($26.75 million) to support National Health Service (NHS) trusts in accelerating the implementation of promising AI tools in hospitals across the country.
While this may be a welcome move, it is important to acknowledge that the NHS had earlier faced controversy related to its involvement in the field of AI. In 2017, a data-sharing agreement between the NHS and Google's DeepMind was ruled to have violated privacy laws by a UK data regulator. This resulted in a class-action lawsuit against Google, which was ultimately dismissed by a U.K. court earlier this year.
Source: Tech Crunch
Unveiling a Mosaic of Perspectives: Essays Illuminate the Dynamic Landscape of AI's Opportunities and Challenges
I came across this interesting exercise by Microsoft, now an OpenAI partner.
With the aim of exploring the potential of GPT-4 and its successors, the IT major recently assembled a diverse group of 20 experts spanning various fields, including business, economics, education, engineering, health, history, law, mathematics, medicine, psychology, and the sciences. These experts were invited to contribute their insights in the form of essays, providing a comprehensive examination of the capabilities of this technology.
To guide their discussions, the contributors with three case studies and posed two fundamental questions:
How can this technology and its future iterations contribute to the well-being and flourishing of humanity?
How can society effectively guide the development of this technology to maximize its benefits for humanity?
The essays that each expert has turned out present a unique perspective and a wealth of knowledge. Together, their essays create a vivid mosaic that illuminates the diverse opportunities and challenges presented by the rapid advancement of AI.
Source: unlocked.microsoft.com
Study Reveals Surprising Twist: Professionals Outsource AI Training Tasks to.… AI !
I am still trying to wrap my head around this one.
The Development: A recent study conducted by researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) found that a significant number of people paid to train AI models were outsourcing their work to AI.
The Details: Companies often rely on gig workers from platforms like Mechanical Turk to complete tasks that are difficult to automate, such as data labeling and text annotation. This data is then used to train AI systems. However, due to low pay and high task demands, many gig workers are now turning to AI tools like ChatGPT to increase their earning potential, the survey found.
The researchers hired 44 workers from Mechanical Turk to summarize medical research papers and analyzed their responses for signs of AI-generated output. They then estimated that between 33% and 46% of the workers had used AI models like ChatGPT.
What Does It Mean To Us: As more days go by, such instances are bound to increase. Generative AI is being used not only for writing content but also as a research tool.
As AI systems continue to improve and become more accessible, it is likely that more workers will turn to these tools to maximize their earning potential. Therefore, it is crucial for researchers and companies utilizing AI models to be aware of the potential for outsourced AI training work and its implications.
Source: Technology Review
Vatican Comes Out With Guide On AI Ethics
In a groundbreaking development earlier this month, the visitors at St. Paul's Church in Fuerth, Bavaria, witnessed the delivery of a sermon generated by AI for the first time.
Recognizing the immense power of this technology, the Vatican and Santa Clara University then joined forces to establish the Institute for Technology, Ethics, and Culture (ITEC).
In response to the growing concerns surrounding the regulation and responsible use of AI, the Vatican has taken a significant step forward by releasing its own comprehensive handbook on AI ethics. Someone jocularly has called it the 11th commandment.
Joining forces with the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, Pope Francis and his team have crafted a set of guidelines aimed at navigating the intricate ethical landscape of AI technology, particularly in the era of ChatGPT. This collaborative effort serves as a testament to the Vatican's commitment to fostering responsible and conscientious AI practices, offering valuable insights for individuals and organizations seeking to harness the potential of AI while upholding ethical standards.
Titled "Ethics in the Age of Disruptive Technologies: An Operational Roadmap," the ITEC Handbook takes a different approach to regulation. Rather than relying solely on governmental regulations, it seeks to empower individuals within technology companies who are already grappling with complex ethical dilemmas posed by AI.
At its core, the handbook introduces a foundational principle for companies to base their values on: "Ensuring that our actions are for the Common Good of Humanity and the Environment."
Although this principle may appear broad, the ITEC Handbook provides a systematic breakdown of this guiding principle into seven specific guidelines. These guidelines, such as "Respect for Human Dignity and Rights" and "Promote Transparency and Explainability," are further dissected into 46 actionable steps, complete with comprehensive definitions, illustrative examples, and implementation strategies.
Source: yankodesign.com
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