In a world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more commonplace, how do we build durable human skills that will help us stay relevant in the job market?
There’s a lot of hype around AI. Will it replace all of our jobs? Do we need to worry about it? It can feel scary, but one way to manage this overwhelm is to find a middle ground by focusing on developing skills that only humans can do (for now).
To cut through the hype, we’ll discuss what AI is in this post. We’ll then reflect on changing our mindset about technology. Finally, we’ll share some ideas about how to equip yourself with durable human skills.
What is AI?
AI is a hot topic, but do we know what it means? To better understand it, gaining some perspective is essential. While it might feel like a new threat, the AI we are working with today results from many decades of effort to build increasingly powerful computational ability.
Alan Turing famously developed computers that could help decipher German code during the Second World War. Since then, computer scientists worldwide, including Geoffrey Hinton, have been programming ways for computers to perform tasks similar to what our brains can do. For example, AI is particularly good at image recognition. This capacity is thanks to machine learning, which helps computers “learn” patterns through vast amounts of data input.
The intricacies of computer science and neural networks are beyond the scope of this article. However, it isn’t necessary to be able to build an AI application to appreciate how this technology, which is as capable as humans at performing specific tasks, will impact us.
On the one hand, it can feel terrifying to think about what a computer can and could do better than we can. However, the hype could be unnecessarily scaring us and distracting us from how we need to adapt.
As with any technological development, AI will change our world – it already has! However, instead of fearing what might happen, we can start thinking about developing in conjunction with AI and learn how to work with it. Doing so can actually help us do more of what only we can do and less of the time-consuming aspects that may be less enjoyable!
Changing our mindsets about technology
Of course, it’s easy to fear new technology, especially when it threatens to eliminate jobs. Understandably, people might be either in denial or wholly panicked about it. However, there is a middle road, which involves building a symbiotic relationship with technology.
This well-used quote sums it up perfectly: “AI won’t take your job, but someone using AI will.” Therefore, instead of panicking about what AI can and can’t do, we should start thinking about how we can embrace the positive aspects of this technology and evolve accordingly.
It doesn’t mean you must become a computer engineer, either. If we break down some ways AI is evolving, we can consider how to upskill ourselves to work alongside this technological development.
What can AI really do?
AI models are good at processing information through deep neural networks or computational programmes based on how our brains work. Thanks to improved processing power, computers can also handle much more information than we can. They don’t need to eat or sleep! So, to find the middle ground, we should start reorienting our skillsets from simple cognitive processes and allow computers to do the time-consuming work.
Anyone who has used ChatGPT or any other type of Generative AI knows that it can now generate information independently. Some AI creations, such as AI personalities with social media profiles, are unnerving. But these require human input, so it’s still a collaborative effort.
It’s also no secret that AI tools are not always right and can tend to “hallucinate”. Therefore, as we can not guarantee the accuracy of AI, we need to improve our critical thinking skills, assess accurate information, and enhance our communication skills, which could include becoming more adept at tasks like prompt engineering.
AI is only as good as its training, which is often biased based on the input it receives. Again, we need to identify such biases and think critically about AI outputs. Just because it is AI generated, does not mean it is right!
What durable skills can we develop?
Of course, AI is improving, and some estimate that singularity, or when computers can perform all of the same functions as human beings, will occur in the next few decades. However, we are not there yet, and in the meantime, we can start to develop skills that can help us input better prompts into AI tools. By doing this, we shift our skills development focus away from tasks that AI performs very well by focusing on what we can do better.
For example, prompt engineering, which involves creating more creative ways to get information from and work with Generative AI, requires many competencies that we can develop. These competencies are called durable skills and they include skills such as creativity, communication skills, and the ability to ask the right questions, all of which can assist us personally and professionally.
Some of the durable skills we can develop include:
Critical thinking
What AI-generated information is true or false? Like humans, AI also makes mistakes, so learning more about evaluating information is vital, especially in a world of deepfakes.
Empathy
AI can perform impressive cognitive and creative tasks, but these are all based on human input. AI doesn’t have feelings, at least not yet, so we still need people to develop skills like empathy to build relationships and navigate conflict.
Communication
We still need to learn how to work together, as AI isn’t managing companies or families on its own. We can also use AI tools better by improving our communication with them.
Interpersonal skills
AI tools can be very helpful in managing day-to-day tasks, but they won’t be able to do all of them anytime soon. A world of robot assistants might happen in the future, but in the meantime, we still need to learn how to work together to manage people and build a functional society.
Entrepreneurial skills
AI can generate information but cannot develop business ideas that require a human understanding of people’s needs. But given that business idea, it can create a business plan for you that would normally take you days to generate. This is a great example of how to integrate AI to help enhance your success.
Counselling
AI applications are very good at educating people about mental health and collecting data about our mental states. They even can provide helpful counselling services up to a point. However, they cannot yet provide the customised in-depth relationship and support you would get from a qualified medical professional.
How to equip yourself with durable skills
At SACAP Global, we offer a range of short online courses and workshops that focus on building uniquely human skills based on applied psychology and finding solutions to practical challenges. These “soft skills” are essential durable skills and include interpersonal, management, empowerment, and counselling abilities.
These capabilities are essential in a world of rapid change and will equip you with the necessary skills to navigate an uncertain future, even though we can’t predict it!
Some of the courses you can take to help you build durable skills and thrive in a changing world include the following:
- Developing a Growth Mindset
- Effective Interpersonal Communication
- Essential Entrepreneurial Skills
- Employee Motivation & Wellness
- Intro to Management & Leadership
- Fundamental Counselling Skills
- Motivation Mastery
- Intro to Relationship Dynamics
- Dynamics of Interpersonal Communication
For more information about other online courses, browse our course list.