Automation and AI aren't just common terms, they are a very real part of daily work lives for millions of people across the world. From speeding up manufacturing to changing how we interact with customers, these technologies are making a big impact. But what does this mean for the workforce?
According to a recent McKinsey & Company study, over 60% of businesses have already started using some form of automation. The benefits are hard to ignore—better efficiency, lower costs, and the ability to scale operations in ways we haven't seen before. But it’s not all smooth sailing. Automation results in changes to roles and displacement of work. This can be a positive. If changes are planned in advance, teams can be reskilled/upskilled in line with the expected future work – which are hopefully better, more fulfilling roles. This requires foresight, effort and will, but this isn’t solely the responsibility of the employer. Individuals need to be thinking in these same terms and adopting a growth mindset, exploring where they can add value to an organisation, thinking about what’s coming and how it will affect them. It’s no secret that organisations are on an endless quest for ever greater efficiency. Remaining relevant is as essential to the individual as it is for the organisation. And ultimately, no one will be more concerned about the individual, than the individual themselves.
There are some interesting things on the horizon, too. The next ‘big wave’ is expected to be Intelligent Agents – clever bits of AI that can chat, interact, analyse, manage and do. There scope is enormous. The trend is clear and has been going on since the dawn of civilisation. We will find tools that make what we want easier to achieve and then widely adopt them. What is both scary and exciting is the extent and speed of these changes.
I’m really interested to know if/how you planning for your future workforce in this rapidly changing world of automation and AI? Is your team asking for training and upskilling, or are they waiting for direction? What jobs do you see disappearing from your organisation all together in the next few years?
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