AI is transforming the world that we live in and none more so than in the realm of work. However, AI is a broad subject and is more commonly used as an umbrella term to cover all types of technologies, intelligent or not. In reality it offers very narrow capabilities and should be seen more as a set of tools that can be applied to solve specific problems. The AI that creates scare stories is a long way off.

We will not all become unemployed. People will continue to play an essential role in the world of work. They will be required not only in IT roles to create the technology in the first place, but to teach the software and provide governance (and confidence to stakeholders) in a process called ‘human in the loop’. People are essential to how intelligent software understands and processes the information that it receives. This can be achieved in two ways either through historical data silos or through learning from day to day operations.

In addition, ever increasing efficiency gains as a result of automation technologies will increase competition, resulting in a desire to gain competitive advantage through customer experience and service. For example the likes of Ikea and John Lewis, have chosen not to focus as heavily on their online store as they have on their physical stores, creating high quality experiences for their customers resulting in higher sales and retention. Creating this relies on unique human skills such as creativity, empathy and problem solving.

Interestingly, a recent survey by The Workforce Institute found that four out of five employees think that AI and intelligent automation technologies will make their work more empowering and engaging and that in fact employers silence over the subject, is what is generating the fear culture. Organisations must communicate with everyone involved in the process to demystify AI and automation technologies, but also identify real business challenges where it can be applied. Getting caught up in the hype and investing in AI for the sake of AI will often fail and result in mistrust from employees and stakeholders.

AI should be viewed not as the all-consuming job destroyer but as augmentation to our own intelligence and roles.