How to Prevent AI From Taking Your Job

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Let's cut to the chase. AI systems are here to stay.

What's happening

Last month, OpenAI released ChatGPT – an AI-powered chatbot capable of J.A.R.V.I.S. level human interaction. In less than a week, ChatGPT secured 1M+ daily users. For context, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter didn't even come close to those numbers for months.

Here are a few examples of what you can do with ChatGPT:

• Brainstorm content ideas, keywords, or topics.

• Learn calculus by asking it to find the derivative of a marginal cost function.

• Create marketing content like blog posts and newsletters.

• Write academic-level papers with a few simple prompts.

• Translate text from another language.

• Recap long documents into short summaries.

• Serve as a medical chatbot.

• Debug code and answer coding-related questions.

• And much more.

Why it matters

Following the release of ChatGPT, people started to freak out. The reactions can be summed up into three categories:

1/ This thing sucks.

2/ This is going to take my job.

3/ This is the coolest thing ever and will put Google out of business.

As an innovation-obsessed optimist, my reaction was more in line with, "This is the coolest thing ever," however, I understand the concern about AI-powered systems eradicating careers, which is why I wrote this article. Let me explain why innovation doesn't cause a loss of jobs; it creates more.

Looking back

Think back to the origins of publishing content in 1439 when the printing press was invented. Before the printing press, the notion of "copy and paste" didn't exist – any writing that needed to be replicated had to be done by hand.

What do you think scribes thought when the printing press was released? They probably thought the invention would take their job and ruin their lives. In some ways, it did. But the loss of one inefficient job created a cascade of employment – repair technicians were needed to fix broken presses, manufacturers built the presses and sourced materials, and writers iterated faster and spread stories quicker to bigger audiences. Not to mention, with the introduction of the press, the aforementioned scribe could increase his output, providing more value to his customers, not less.

Let's look back on some of the most significant inventions and innovations in human history. The result always has been and always will be: innovation creates opportunity. 

• The electric light was created in 1879, giving birth to an entire electrical industry and powering humans to work and socialize into the night.

• In 1885, Karl Benz discovered the modern-day automobile, laying the groundwork for corporate giants like Ford, Uber, and Door Dash to be built years later.

• The Wright brothers pioneered the airplane in 1903, and as a result, we can fly across the world in a day. Plus, we utilize air travel so much today that there is an industry-wide pilot shortage. Maybe you should become a pilot; ChatGPT can't fly planes yet!

• In 1939 the computer was invented. Fast forward 83 years and the tech industry's total valuation is $9.3T. One invention. Big impact.

The list goes on and on, but do you notice a trend? History can be a great reference if you allow it to be.

Punchline

In every case, innovation has resulted in the creation of new jobs, the evolution of inefficient ones, and the growth of humanity. ChatGPT is merely another example of technological advancement creating new industries and professions. To take any other perspective is ludicrous.

Circling back

So how do you prevent ChatGPT from taking your job?

Evolve with the times, don't get stuck in old ways. Here are a few examples:

• Research how AI systems may impact your company/industry.

• Become a spokesperson for AI within your company.

• Use AI systems like ChatGPT to become more productive.

• Build new companies based on AI technology.

• Create a consulting agency for AI-powered solutions in different industries.

• Write an AI newsletter covering the latest trends and headlines.

Whatever you do, do not become a victim. Leverage what you know, research what you don't, and get to work. The world is much more fun when we're creating and doing work that advances humankind.

Keep crushing.

Cheers,

Noah Cracknell