TL;DR:
- LinkedIn survey reveals European workers’ expectations regarding AI’s impact on their jobs.
- Nearly half of respondents in six European countries foresee a “significant” change in their job roles due to AI within the next year.
- AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard, as well as image creation tools like Midjourney and DALL•E 2, are causing workforce concerns.
- Many workers feel overwhelmed and worried about keeping up with AI developments.
- Around 59% of respondents lack formal AI training from their employers.
- Soft skills such as problem solving and time management are seen as increasingly important in an AI-dominated future.
Main AI News:
A recent survey conducted by the careers social network LinkedIn has shed light on European workers’ perceptions of AI’s impending impact, revealing that nearly half of respondents anticipate a substantial transformation in their professional lives within the next year.
The rise of AI has triggered widespread apprehensions about its potential influence on employment. Today, tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard can craft entire articles, tackle exams, and even generate functional code with remarkable fluency. Meanwhile, professionals in creative fields, such as artists and graphic designers, are left pondering the evolving capabilities of generative AI tools for image creation, exemplified by technologies like Midjourney and DALL•E 2.
LinkedIn’s comprehensive survey reached out to over 10,000 workers aged 18 and above across the UK, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy. The findings revealed a prevailing sentiment among respondents that AI is poised to exert a significant impact on their careers. Approximately 45 percent of those surveyed foresaw a “significant” shift in their job roles within the next year, with over a third expressing feelings of overwhelm and concern about their ability to keep pace with the rapid developments in their workplaces.
Charlotte Davies, a career expert at LinkedIn, commented on the situation, emphasizing that professionals are once again adapting to a wave of change, closely following the challenges posed by the pandemic. She acknowledged that staying abreast of the latest AI developments can be daunting. However, Davies highlighted the positive aspect of a large number of individuals embracing these changes and actively seeking to acquire knowledge on harnessing this transformative technology.
The survey further illuminated the workforce’s thirst for knowledge, with approximately half of respondents expressing a desire to learn more about AI. Astonishingly, 59 percent of them reported a lack of formal training opportunities provided by their employers. A substantial portion, a third, were already integrating AI into their daily work routines, with 26 percent utilizing generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.
Davies also emphasized the increasing interest in AI-related topics on LinkedIn, with members progressively adding AI skills to their profiles. Nonetheless, she underlined the enduring importance of soft skills in the evolving landscape of AI and automation. The study affirmed that half of the professionals surveyed recognized the growing significance of skills such as problem-solving, time management, and strategic thinking in the face of an AI-influenced future.
Conclusion:
The survey underscores the growing apprehensions and expectations among European workers regarding the impending influence of AI on their jobs. As professionals prepare to adapt to this wave of technological change, there is a notable demand for AI education and a recognition of the enduring importance of soft skills. This evolving landscape presents opportunities for businesses to invest in AI training and emphasize the development of essential soft skills to remain competitive in the market.
