(Image source from: REUTERS)
AI is coming into different businesses quicker than anyone expects, leading to quick changes in the corporate environment. As job losses become more common, modern jobs now need individuals to learn new skills and adapt to current trends. On this topic, Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, has offered some career tips for the new era of AI during a global layoff situation. In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Gates recognized the huge transformative potential of AI. He mentioned, "When productivity increases, it shouldn’t imply that being less productive is bad. And being more productive is good. It means we can allow these individuals to have smaller classes, enjoy longer vacations, or help out more. The concern is, if it happens so suddenly that there's no time to adjust."
The billionaire and charity worker shared his thoughts that automation driven by AI will eventually bring about positive results, enabling workers to take part in more meaningful tasks. Yet, he cautioned that the fast nature of this change could create major difficulties for society to adapt. Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, had earlier warned that around half of entry-level, white-collar jobs might disappear by 2030 because of the widespread use of AI. Gates also hinted that blue-collar jobs could be affected in the future as robots keep improving. He noted how amazed he was by the rapid progress in AI, especially with new features like Deep Research abilities. “I have the advantage of having really smart people I can call when I get puzzled about physics. But now I actually utilize deep research. Then I’ll share that answer with my smart friends and ask, ‘Hey, did it get it right?’ And usually, they say, ‘Oh yeah, you didn’t need me,’” Gates humorously commented.
Gates is currently working with Microsoft and OpenAI to make sure that AI tools are available in low-income countries to help with projects in health, education, and agriculture. When asked for specific advice for young individuals facing changes in the job market, Gates stated, “Being able to use these tools is both enjoyable and empowering. Adopting AI and keeping track of it will be very crucial. That doesn’t ensure we won’t experience a lot of disruptions.” “But my advice for young people hasn’t changed: be curious, read, and utilize the latest tools,” Gates added.
