The Daily Soap 

5 Tips to Better Prepare for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Workplace 

As so much news is making headlines lately regarding astounding developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI), there is no doubt we are seeing an evolving work environment as a result. If you're like me, you probably stopped dead in your tracks frightened on what this could all mean for an evolving workplace (Queue in Robot Apocalypse). But once you get over this thought, you might start thinking, "hey, what can I do to prepare for this?" If so, this article is for you. It's true, AI is having a significant impact on the workplace by changing the way businesses operate, the skills that are required of employees, and the types of jobs that are available. Let's break down some of the ways AI is changing the workplace:

1. Automation of repetitive tasks: AI can automate repetitive and tedious tasks that were previously done by humans, such as data entry, customer service, and basic accounting. This allows employees to focus on more complex and creative tasks that require human skills.

2. Increased efficiency and productivity: AI can analyze large amounts of data in real-time, allowing businesses to make more informed decisions and operate more efficiently. AI can also identify inefficiencies and suggest ways to streamline processes.

3. New types of jobs: AI is creating new types of jobs that require specialized skills, such as data scientists, machine learning engineers, and AI trainers. These jobs often require a combination of technical and analytical skills, as well as the ability to work with AI systems.

4. Augmentation of human abilities: AI can enhance human abilities by providing real-time information and insights. For example, AI can analyze medical images to help doctors make more accurate diagnoses, or it can analyze financial data to help investment managers make better investment decisions.

5. Reskilling and upskilling: As AI automates many routine tasks, employees need to reskill and upskill to remain relevant in the workforce. This requires ongoing learning and training to develop new skills that are in demand in the new AI-driven economy.

AI is changing the workplace by increasing efficiency, creating new types of jobs, augmenting human abilities, and requiring employees to reskill and upskill to remain competitive in the workforce. This doesn't mean we should sit by the wayside while the changes outpace our own growth. 

You can prepare for changes brought by AI in the workplace by taking the following steps:

1. Develop new skills: Be proactive in developing new skills that are in demand in the AI-driven economy. This could involve learning programming languages, data analysis, machine learning, or other technical skills.

2. Keep learning: AI is rapidly evolving, keep learning and updating your skills to remain relevant. This could involve taking courses, attending conferences, or participating in online learning programs.

3. Embrace change: Be open to change and willing to adapt to new technologies and processes. This may involve stepping out of your comfort zones and embracing new ways of working.

4. Cultivate creativity: AI can automate many routine tasks, but it cannot replace human creativity. Focus on developing your creative skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.

5. Collaborate with machines: As AI becomes more prevalent in the workplace, learn how to collaborate with machines effectively. This may involve learning how to train and supervise AI systems, as well as developing a better understanding of how AI can augment human capabilities.

All of these changes have very scary elements because there is nothing easy about major change. Be proactive in preparing for the changes brought on by AI to ease some of those fears. This requires a willingness to learn, adapt, and collaborate with machines to remain competitive in the new AI-driven economy. The following are a handful free resources I'd like to share as you go along this journey:

1. Learn with Google AI: https://ai.google/education/

2. Harvard Free Online Courses: https://pll.harvard.edu/catalog

3. Open AI Chat GPT: https://chat.openai.com/

4. Udacity Free Artificial Courses: https://www.udacity.com/courses/all?price=Free

5. Intellipaat Free Artificial Intelligence Course: https://intellipaat.com/academy/course/artificial-intelligence-free-course/

by Violeta Marquez 4/2/2023