Artificial Intelligence is evolving at an increasingly fast pace, with a significant impact on the world of work. Many roles that were once occupied by humans have been automated: production, administration and customer service departments have been profoundly affected by this transformation.
Nevertheless, it would be wrong to say that AI has only led to job losses: the reality is that the advent of softwares such as Chat GPT or Midjourney, to name a few, has made certain roles more competitive and has created new opportunities.
In short, AI has made it necessary for workers to acquire new skills in order to remain relevant.
Skills that were considered crucial in the past will no longer be sufficient to succeed in the AI era. Acquiring or improving all those human skills (the soft skills) that cannot be replicated by a machine, while at the same time understanding how to exploit artificial intelligence to optimise one’s workflow, is crucial.
Technological skills
“If you cannot defeat your enemy, make him your friend.” Julius Caesar
In the age of AI, technological skills are indispensable. Those who look to the future cannot overlook the study of AI Prompting, i.e. all the instructions, provided in text form, required to obtain a specific result from an artificial intelligence software. Better the prompt, better the output, lower the risk of being replaced.
Creativity, critical thinking and problem solving
The ability to devise innovative solutions, think outside the box and critically analyse situations remains a distinctive aspect of human intelligence, which AI still has difficulty replicating. To cultivate these skills, it’s advisable to practise lateral thinking, exploring different perspectives and stimulating one’s imagination, and to approach complex problems using structured methodologies such as analytical thinking and design thinking.
Human skills
Skills such as effective communication, collaboration, leadership, empathy and emotional intelligence play a key role in the world of work. Developing these skills can be done through training courses and workshops or through active practice, for example by participating in group projects and getting involved in volunteering activities.
Seeking mentors who are experts in the desired new skills can offer valuable advice. Building a strong professional network by attending industry events, conferences and networking meetings is also important. These opportunities offer the chance to connect with like-minded professionals and learn from them. Developing creativity, critical thinking and problem solving skills, improving one’s technological knowledge and giving more space to human skills is essential to meet current and future challenges and take advantage of the opportunities offered by AI. Only through continuous learning, practical engagement in everyday life and collaboration with other professionals it will be possible to remain relevant in our fast paced world.
