Five Safeguards to Prevent A.I. from Taking Your Job

You’ve probably heard a lot of buzz regarding A.I. (artificial intelligence) taking over common jobs. There are even doomsday predictions and long lists of jobs likely to be eliminated. While A.I. will have an impact on nearly every industry, you have a lot less to fear if you are knowledgeable and prepared. Here are some basic steps you can take to get yourself in a good position when A.I. comes to your workplace.

1. Learn A.I. and Lean into A.I.
Instead of sitting idle and worrying about A.I. taking over your job, become an expert in A.I. and learn about its strength and weaknesses. You may even find that A.I. can enhance what you do and add more value to your company. Once you become known as the go-to A.I. person in your company, you are seen as future-focused, more valuable and less likely to be replaced by A.I.

2. Enhance your secondary skills
There may be some portions of your job that are A.I. replaceable, but other tasks that are not. For example, a sales position might use A.I. to generate leads and formulate the right sales pitch specific to a client, but your job is to connect with clients, form a relationship, and make the sales pitch. This is something A.I. just can’t do. Your best defense is to develop your sales and communication skills.

3. Prepare an argument as to why you can do the job better
Do your homework on how A.I. can help your job but also have a list of reasons why A.I. isn’t the best choice and have examples ready. For example, an A.I. chatbot technically could replace a customer service job, however, the downsides might be less accurate responses, a downgrade in client satisfaction and frustrated new prospects that simply move on to your competitors.

4. Uncover efficiencies that save your company money
The worst-case scenario is that a higher up, who knows very little about A.I., caught wind of the latest buzzword and wants to save money with A.I. without knowing the real-time consequences. And if the argument is saving money, the best counterargument is to have a well-earned reputation as someone who saves the company money.

5. Become the employee any company would hate to lose
If you’ve earned a reputation as a person that comes in a little early, works hard and does exceptional work, gets along well with others, leaves a little bit later, and generally is a seen as a great hire, it’s unlikely you’ll be let go, even if A.I. can replace some of your common job functions. Good people and more specifically, good employees, are difficult to find and most companies are hesitant to let those people go.

Finally, here’s the good news! What if you did all the above, but your company never really considered replacing you with A.I.? You just might find yourself in better standing and subject to a raise and promotion! Just remember, excellent employees always find work.