Will AI Steal My Job?

Nadio Granata writer, tutor and mentor at Professional Academy

Since the launch of ChatGPT there has been a lot of buzz about the potential impact of AI on jobs and training. Many professionals, marketers included, have begun to wonder if AI is a threat or a potential benefit to their career.

The UK Government's report (December 2023) on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on jobs and training provides a comprehensive analysis of how AI technologies are likely to affect various sectors of the UK labour market.

One thing that AI is good at is summarising the key points from reports, so our AI guru, Nadio Granata asked his own AI chatbot AskNadioGPT to summarise the government report to find out if AI is going to steal your job:

Occupational Exposure to AI: Professional occupations, especially those involving clerical work in finance, law, and business management, are most exposed to AI. Examples include management consultants, business analysts, accountants, and psychologists. Notably, teaching occupations also show higher exposure due to the relevance of large language models.
Industry Exposure: The finance and insurance sector are the most exposed to AI, followed by information & communication, professional scientific & technical services, property, public administration & defence, and education.
Geographical Variation: Workers in London and the South-East have the highest exposure to AI, reflecting the concentration of professional jobs. Conversely, the North-East shows the least exposure. However, the variation in AI exposure across geographical areas is relatively small compared to the variation across occupations and industries.
Qualification Linkage: Higher qualifications typically lead to jobs with more exposure to AI. For instance, those with a degree are more likely to be in jobs with higher AI exposure compared to those with qualifications equivalent to A-Levels.
Subject Area Impact: Qualifications in accounting and finance, economics, and mathematics are linked to jobs with higher exposure to AI, while qualifications in building and construction, manufacturing technologies, and transportation operations have lower exposure.
Augmentation vs. Substitution: The report distinguishes between jobs that AI is likely to augment (aid) versus those it may substitute (replace). Research suggests most jobs will experience complementarity rather than substitution from AI.
Training Routes: Apprenticeships at level 4 and above, particularly in accounting, professional services, and IT, lead to occupations with higher exposure to AI. Additionally, there is a gender difference, with female students tending to enter training leading to jobs with more exposure to AI.

This analysis is crucial for understanding which sectors and types of jobs are most vulnerable to or will benefit from AI, and how the workforce needs to prepare for these technological advancements. It highlights the need for strategic planning in education and professional training to equip the workforce with the skills necessary for a future where AI plays an integral role in many occupations.

Marketers are already aware that AI will have an impact on their work, and many are already exploring or using AI. However, to really get to grips with AI taking a professional qualification will demonstrate the skills and understanding needed to use it responsibly. Professional Academy now offers the CIM Level 6 Specialist Award in AI Marketing.