AI will change the nature of work rather than simply eliminate jobs, initially affecting roles tied to Coding, Conversation, and Content while creating new opportunities and obsoleting some tasks. Longstanding workforce forecasting emphasized human skills amid automation, and that emphasis remains vital as AI integrates into workplaces. Effective AI adoption requires human-centered task analysis so people can focus on high-value work. Some organizations had to rehire staff after automation revealed tasks needing human intervention. Demand for AI skills rose across multiple job categories by 2025, with finance, consulting, and automotive leading adoption.
Optimists believe AI will create more jobs for a bright future we can only dream of. Pessimists believe it will be a job killer at a scale that is unprecedented. Yet there is a middle road. AI will evolve roles - first those connected to the three Cs - Coding, Conversation and Content - and it will also create more opportunities for people to work in new ways. Some tasks will become obsolete, new ones will emerge.
When it comes to AI, I'm a grounded optimist. I believe that rather than eliminating jobs, AI is changing their very nature. In fact, through 2025, seven out of 20 job categories - such as IT, finance, and customer service - saw an increase in AI skills required in job postings compared to 2024. And enterprises in industries like finance, consulting, and automative - who were once late technology adopters - are leading the way.
Some organizations learned this the hard way when they rehired employees they'd previously let go, after recognizing the number of automated tasks that required human intervention and discernment. Unlike other IT-centric emerging technologies, AI is now woven into nearly every part of our work and lives, evolving into a partner, coach, mentor, and assistant. Yet, its true value still relies on human oversight, judgment, and context.
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