New data shows that by 2030, 70% of the skills used in most jobs will change and the single common denominator driving this change is Artificial Intelligence (AI).
It’s without question that the last few years have seen the world swept by the next generation of AI, fundamentally changing how technology impacts business. From R&D-led companies developing powerful new foundation models, to technology vendors swiftly implementing them in end-user applications, AI has significantly accelerated activity across all areas of business.
However, with these changes happening faster than ever before, legislators, regulators, and industry bodies have had to embark on an equally tumultuous journey to set rules and guidelines for what a safe, effective, and sustainable implementation of AI-powered technologies looks like.
The role of AI in changing everything
The reality is that we are witnessing a much broader transformation. A longer-term, deeper-rooted change that has far-reaching implications beyond the immediately apparent insertion of chatbots into everyday life. The power of AI lies in its ability to transform how human activity is wired together and it will require a new stream of work that is responsible for the flow and use of information within organizations and in society at large.
The ever-demanding complex and unpredictable situations that businesses need to navigate are being completely altered by AI’s capacity to learn, interpret, and abstract at scale. It brings an ecosystem-scale range of possibilities, challenges and dependencies that force us to re-evaluate every aspect of our routines and dependence on existing tools.
That’s why a pillar of “practice”, driven by the need to harness the immediate and indirect value of advanced AI, is essential. One that focuses on direct interpretation, implementation, control, and effect, and ultimately changes everything.
Skills in the age of AI
There are those who talk about the onset of AI technologies as a moment that will drastically influence the skills needed in the workplace, as well as the job roles on the market. However, the AI skills gap is currently posing a major threat to many organizations as research shows that 81% of IT professionals think that they can use AI, but only 12% have the skills to do so.
While the development and adoption of new AI-powered technologies continues at pace, it is essential that the right skills, best practices, and standards are developed
and shared. After all, with the technology becoming increasingly more embedded in our lives, it is critical that those driving this AI revolution uphold the professional practice standard.
Businesses are now placing their bets on AI investments and the value they will bring. From financial ROI and improving their agility, to creating, producing, and delivering new products and services that weren’t feasible before, companies will notice that the novelty of AI will quickly become the norm, and they will encounter the lack of established practices. This is a path that is yet to be forged as organizations look for success in an uncertain climate.
AI’s next frontier
To ensure AI investments directly contribute to strategic business goals, leaders require clear direction. The industry’s role is to provide this through established best practices, clear pathways to success, and common standards for AI implementation. This development should mirror fundamental IT work by being structured, independent, transparent, and driven by consensus, ultimately benefiting everyone: from individuals, to large organizations, and all levels of society.
Establishing such best practices, will require a critical mass of practitioners, sponsors, and supporters who are interested and committed to the long-term challenge. Ultimately, the aim is to ensure unbiased, beneficial, and inclusive progress in technological needs and outcomes. This will encompass technology’s interaction, its structure, and our fundamental understanding of its role. To empower business leaders in making sound AI investment choices and reaching their goals, the development of best practices, clear industry benefits, and a professional framework for implementation will be vital.
About the Author
Steve Nunn is President and CEO of The Open Group. The Open Group: Leading the development of open, vendor-neutral technology standards and certifications. The Open Group is a global consortium that enables the achievement of business objectives through technology standards. Our diverse 900+ Memberships includes customers, systems and solutions suppliers, tool vendors, integrators, academics, and consultants across multiple industries.
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