7 Reasons A.I. Won’t be Taking Your Job Anytime Soon

While artificial intelligence (A.I.) is still far from perfect, there has been a lot of talk lately about the science fiction-like future many people think will soon come to pass: namely, one in which humans are ousted from the job market by cheaper, faster, and more efficient robots.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) has already allowed chatbots to write papers and give technical support. Robotic process automation (RPA) is increasingly being used by HR departments and financial firms for tasks like payroll and writing reports. And while all this—coupled with the World Economic Forum’s report estimating that 85 million jobs may be displaced by machines by the year 2025—may make some employees nervous, there are various reasons why A.I. won’t be taking your job anytime soon. Read on to discover why now is not the time to panic.

1. Creativity can’t be taught

Those with jobs that are creative in nature—anything in which it’s up to you to come up with new ideas or ways of doing things—should be reassured that A.I. hasn’t caught up to the quirky idiosyncrasies that contribute to these kinds of tasks.

2. Brand new roles are coming

One exciting side effect of the increased use of A.I. is the necessary development of brand-new positions that literally no one has had to do before. Harvard Business Review points out that this can prove particularly advantageous to employees who are just entering the workforce, since they’ll be “less likely to be forced to compete with their seniors, and more likely to be pioneers.”

3. Personal relationships still matter

While A.I. can admittedly do an impressive amount of technical work, any job that requires an in-depth knowledge of people and relationships is fairly insulated. Therapists, doctors, consultants—these roles don’t just have a physical output—they rely heavily on understanding people as the flawed and complicated beings that we are.

4. There will be plenty of time to adapt

While Wired reports both the retail and transportation sectors are likely to see a huge hit in automation, they also point out that most reports are estimating that won’t happen for another 25 years. This, they point out, is “more than enough time for the economy to adapt.”

5. Humans are still delightfully unique

Fortunately, there are plenty of singularly human qualities that are safe from the encroachment of A.I—at least for now. Jobs that involve a high level of emotional intelligence, for example, or that regularly involve unpredictable tasks in a constantly shifting environment are not good candidates for an A.I. takeover. Those who are particularly worried about the issue might feel more secure by taking on these kinds of roles.

6. Physicality matters too

It’s not just the brain that makes us humans so unique. The dexterity and maneuverability of the human body, paired with the ability to make split-second decisions in order to solve a unique problem, is another hurdle A.I. hasn’t been able to tackle. The BBC points specifically to trade jobs—welders, electricians, plumbers, etc.—as “probably the hardest of anything to automate.” This is because they’re having to adapt to new situations all the time and perform intricate tasks that require a lot of delicate work.

7. Entry-level may become a thing of the past

While A.I. is starting to be seen in some areas that involve highly repetitive tasks that used to be assigned to entry level workers, this can actually have a positive effect on the (human) workforce. Why? Those kinds of positions will be automated, creating new roles that require more complex responsibilities—resulting in higher salaries and the official end of entry level work as we know it.

Recruitment strategies are changing, but it remains to be seen how much of that is actually due to the steady rise of A.I. usage. The important thing to keep in mind is that the human mind is still a fascinating, complex thing that cannot be replicated as easily as it may seem from the eye-catching headlines touting A.I.’s amazing capabilities. Keep learning and striving, and rest assured that you can adapt to whatever comes your way.