Getting ahead on the job isn't just about hard work. It's also about keeping your workplace skills current — and your ability to learn AI.
The need for proficiency in artificial intelligence, better known as AI, is quickly emerging. Employers rank AI as the "most important technology skill set" a job candidate can possess, according to an Amazon Web Services (AWS) report. More than 90% of employers surveyed said they will use AI-related solutions in their organizations by 2028.
To keep pace with AI-driven change requires workers to commit themselves to learning the ABCs of AI, says Marni Baker Stein, chief content officer at Coursera, an online education provider. Workers must understand what the technology does and how they can best exploit AI to advance their careers.
"AI is a key skill set, competency, and credential that people are going to need, not only now but into the future, to be more productive and stay competitive," said Stein, a career educator.
Change Your Attitude Toward AI
But instead of viewing AI as a career killer or threat to their jobs, workers ranging from tech specialists to nontech workers should embrace the technology. They should treat it as a tool that can boost their career.
Acquiring AI skills is also a way to earn more money. Employers estimate workers who acquire AI expertise could see their paychecks jump by 30% or more, the AWS study found.
AI is projected to generate more jobs than it will take away, according to New Horizons, a provider of IT skills and certification training. It estimates that 97 million jobs will be created by AI by 2025. That's more than the 85 million jobs that will be lost due to AI-related job displacement.
Get Creative When You Learn AI
Another plus of boosting AI skills is it means workers will spend less time doing mundane tasks. They will be able to focus instead on more rewarding aspects of their work.
"There will be more time for innovation," said Stein. That's why it's vital for workers in all industries to get up to speed on AI sooner rather than later.
The new career buzzword is upskilling, code word for building on your existing skill set by learning new or advanced skills. Upskilling can be the difference between getting promoted to a management position or being tapped to take on a vital new project at work or being passed over.
Indeed, 42% of employers are actively looking for job candidates with AI qualifications, according to the AWS survey. Yet 75% say they're having trouble finding qualified talent. So, what are the AI skills everyday workers need to learn?
Discover The Basics And Learn AI
Learning the basics is a good starting point, says Stein. Workers need to understand what generative AI is and how to use it.
The next step is to expand beyond the basics and drill down on AI applications directly related to your job, adds Stein. "Start learning about the tools and skill sets and use cases for generative AI that help you do understand how to do your job better, faster, more creatively and at a higher quality," Stein said.
AI isn't just for the tech-savvy. The beauty of generative AI is that it's accessible through human language. And language is universal. Everybody has a certain aptitude in language, whereas they might not have the math skills to be a computer programmer or data scientist.
"We don't have to become software developers to learn AI or learn how to wield it," said Stein.
Learning how to master AI and elicit the outcomes you want from the queries you pose is all about putting in the work. You need to learn how to maximize what AI tools have to offer.
"It's all about our ability to elicit our own domain expertise, our own critical-thinking skills," said Stein. "It's the questions that we're asking and the outcomes we're looking for from using these tools that are almost as important as the tools themselves."
Get The Most Out Of AI
Get out of AI what you put in.
"You really need to figure out how AI can assist you, whether you're in a tech role, a teaching role, or a journalist, lawyer or communications specialist," said Stein. "You must ask, 'how can generative AI assist me?' That means learning the tools, learning the approaches to the tools, and that means practicing the tools."
Just like you can't become a spreadsheet wizard or a tennis pro without hitting thousands of shots in practice, you can't master AI unless you work with the tool often and with the intent to get better.
"You get better exponentially by experimenting with AI on a regular basis," said Stein.
