An IBM study titled “Augmented work for an automated, AI-driven world” has found that generative AI models like ChatGPT will not replace jobs, but rather augment them. The study, which surveyed 3,000 C-level executives and 21,000 workers, found that 87 per cent of executives expect AI to augment roles rather than replace them.
The study also found that 40 per cent of the global workforce will need to reskill in the next three years due to AI implementation. However, the study found that tech adopters who successfully reskill to adapt to technology-driven job changes report a revenue growth rate premium of 15 per cent on average.
“AI won’t replace people—but people who use AI will replace people who don’t,” said IBM in the report.
The study also found that the new skill paradigm shifts technical skills that were typically prioritized, such as proficiency in STEM, to the least priority in 2023. The reason is that now tools like ChatGPT allow workers to do more with less knowledge.
According to the study, there is now a greater emphasis on people skills such as team management, the capacity to operate well in team contexts, effective communication, and the readiness to adapt to change.
The study concludes that AI is not a threat to jobs, but rather an opportunity to create new and better ones. By embracing AI and reskilling, workers can position themselves for success in the future of work.
The sources for this piece include an article in ZDNET.