ChatGPT isn't coming for your job (yet)

AI has been the hot topic discussion in many circles over the past few months, and with good reason. Significant strides are being made in the technology that has people excited for the prospects, but also afraid for their job security. We have seen automation reduce the need for human labor multiple times throughout history, from factory workers to cashiers, and some experts are sounding the alarm that it's happening again. This time though, it's affecting a wider variety of people, specifically those who work in offices.

ChatGPT is not the only AI model accused of this, however it is the most well known. In under a minute it can answer questions, generate content, or solve a coding issue, with guided prompting of course. That last bit is important, and often overlooked. While some managers are certainly jumping the gun in eliminating jobs in favor of automation, they will quickly find out that the technology is not quite there yet.

It can help a developer solve a code issue, or find something they may have missed, but it cannot build an entire website from scratch. It can generate topic ideas, or even entire articles for a writer, but it requires guidance, and there are tools that are able to distinguish between human and AI generated content. Even without tools, it's not difficult for a regular person to figure out if an article was written by a human or not. That is just where the technology is at the moment. It is rigid and inhuman. For now. While we do not know the rate at which it will improve, it is safe to assume that it will, and many people will not be prepared for the consequences.

The state of AI at the moment is one that can assist workers in completing their tasks more quickly and efficiently, but the worker is still required. They are still the one producing the value for whatever position they may be in. The current version of ChatGPT can be compared to tools such as Microsoft Excel or Grammarly. Excel helped automate data entry and other clerical duties by providing an easy to use spreadsheet with built in formulas for calculations. Grammarly helped writers by automatically checking for spelling and grammar mistakes in their content. These tools helped to improve and speed up processes, but they did not replace jobs. Secretaries and editors still exist. ChatGPT in its current state is not a threat to anyone with a competent manager. It is a tool that can be used broadly by many professions to make their jobs easier.

The future of AI, however, is what most people are afraid of, and rightfully so. Not too long ago, if you mentioned AI, people would think of the classic "robots taking over the world" trope. While we may be a ways away from that future, one where people across a variety of industries need to quickly adapt to prove their worth is one that may be approaching. So what can be done? This history of automation says not much. While the idea of automation started with the intention of letting us all work less and use that time pursuing our passions, it rarely turns out that way. It is unlikely that this ideal world is coming any time soon.

For now, the best we can do is to learn. Try out ChatGPT for yourself and integrate it into your workday. Learn how it works, its benefits and flaws, and if you can use it to improve your work. Chances are that most poeple can benefit in some way from knowledge and use of AI. This will also be a beneficial skill for any people looking for a job, as knowledge of the latest technologies is always highly sought after.