ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence tools change everything. They are a disruptive technology, bringing radical change to the way in which we live. Our work lives have been especially disrupted by generative AI because it represents the first time in which artificial intelligence has been proven to be able to truly replace people at their jobs.
Generative AI’s Effect on the Tech Job Market
1. It is jeopardizing jobs for “hands-on-only” tech people.
2. It is replacing systems administrators.
3. It is increasing the demand for human skills.
4. It is lightening the work load for business leaders.
ChatGPT, launched in November 2022, is the first AI platform to communicate exceptionally well, providing accuracy in its responses that are often better than what a person could provide. The technical work it performs is done on a professional level. Overall, it represents the first generative AI platform that is good enough to be a game changer in the tech space.
Chat GPT’s design allows it to accomplish things that computers had been incapable of on their own up to this point. As a result, it is poised to replace a significant percentage of the workforce. Reports are already warning of its ability to replace jobs in many sectors, including the media, legal industry, finance, education, customer service and, of course, technology.
However, the news about generative AI’s impact on the job market is not all bad. Here are five key ways in which generative AI is changing the tech job market.
Generative AI Is Replacing Some Tech Positions
“Hands-on-only” tech people do not bring people skills to their positions. Their jobs only require them to touch the technology. As a result, they are truly in jeopardy of losing their jobs to generative AI.
Generative AI can program just like a programmer, but faster. It can do in five seconds or less what it would take a human 30 to 45 minutes to accomplish. That level of efficiency makes it extremely valuable in the business world.
Generative AI is not perfect, but it is comparable to human workers in terms of skills. What gives it the edge over its human counterpart is that it will work 24 hours per day, seven days per week without complaining or getting tired. Generative AI does not ask for a raise, does not ask for a four-day workweek, does not need health insurance or other benefits and does not get sick.
Programmers who are only techies and who occupy introductory to medium-level positions should be concerned about their careers. That’s because generative AI can take those jobs away and, in doing so, can save organizations a tremendous amount of money.
Microsoft has already provided an example of this. In January, it announced layoffs that it said would affect 10,000 employees. During the same month, it announced it was investing $10 billion in ChatGPT.
Generative AI Is Replacing Systems Admins
Systems administrators can also be the type of “hands-on-only” people whose positions will be replaced by generative artificial intelligence. In some cases, systems administrators’ responsibilities are limited to installing software, writing basic Python scripts and Windows power shell scripts, and other hands-on processes. Generative AI can do all of those things automatically.
This does not necessarily mean that generative AI will do away with the need for systems administrators. However, it will reduce the need. With the help of ChatGPT and other generative AI-driven technology, one superstar systems administrator or programmer can do the work of 10 to 20 people.
Generative AI Is Replacing Digital Marketing Copywriters
Tech and software companies often rely heavily on digital marketing to promote their products and acquire new customers. Whether they create in-house positions for this role or rely on outside vendors, copywriters represent an expense for many tech companies. Generative AI is doing away with that expense.
Generative AI can write copy in a variety of voices, which the user can select. You can even train it to write in your voice, mimicking your tone and your word choice. Provide it with a topic, and it will find information and present it with great accuracy.
Generative AI Is Increasing the Demand for Human Skills
Generative AI can deliver a wide range of skills with better efficiency, speed, and effectiveness than humans. But it is not human and cannot deliver many qualities which are critical to the technology world. For many technology workers, this is great news.
Generative AI cannot develop a relationship with a client or coworker, lead a team or close a sale. All of these are essential tasks that companies must carry out to succeed and for which humans are required.
Generative AI also cannot do the work of cloud architects, network architects, and enterprise architects, which is to figure out holistic solutions that improve business performance with technology. By nature, those positions must communicate with and connect to a large number of people. They must manage stakeholders, design a solution, present a solution and sell the solution, all while leading large teams. For these positions, generative AI is a tool that can make the job easier, rather than a tool that will replace the job.
Generative AI Lightens the Load for Business Leaders
The capabilities that generative AI brings to the business world are a boon for many positions, especially those leadership roles in which a lot of collaboration is necessary. Leaders can dramatically improve their efficiency and effectiveness by leveraging generative AI to assist them with a wide range of business responsibilities. It serves as a valuable tool in any leader’s toolbox, playing a role in creating presentations, drafting documents, and responding to RFIs, RFPs and RFQs.
Overall, technology professionals who want to benefit from the changes that artificial intelligence is bringing to the workplace need to understand that generative AI can spit out code and copy, but it can’t connect with others. The technology job market will always have opportunities for those who can build teams and speak across cultural boundaries in a way that so we can bring out the best in others.
For programmers, systems administrators, and copywriters, generative AI promises to create a much more challenging job market. For professionals like cloud architects, network architects and enterprise architects, however, the growth of generative AI will only mean more opportunities.
The key for any tech worker looking for a successful career in the age of artificial intelligence will be to bring to the workforce tech savvy along with the people skills that generative AI cannot deliver.
