Outsmarting AI: are you thinking or just doing?

Back in the early '90s, a personal computer was a portal to wonders in newly independent Lithuania - I vividly remember the awe I felt when my best friend got one. It was rare, almost magical, a glimpse into a future that was hard to imagine fully. It's fascinating how swiftly this technology intertwined with our daily lives, transforming them in ways we couldn't have predicted. Fast forward to today, and it feels like we're on the cusp of a similar revolution, this time with AI.

But here’s the catch - everything we've developed over the last 20-30 years has been optimised for speed, for quicker advancements. So, when we think about AI, it's easy to ask: will it take time to significantly impact our lives and work? History would suggest a long journey, but the pace at which we've been moving tells a different story. AI, a concept and a dream for decades, is now rapidly evolving into a reality, thanks to the groundwork laid by years of technological progress. This acceleration hints at timelines shrinking, pushing us to rethink not just the way we work but also the speed at which we adapt.

It's important to remember the blend of awe and uncertainty that surrounded the early days of personal computing. Much like then, AI today stands at a similar juncture - full of potential, yet wrapped in questions about its future trajectory and our role in an AI-shaped world.

So, let's envision a future where what we think and how we adapt matter more than just the tasks we do. This is a big change from the past, where work was all about survival and using our hands and skills. Now, we're moving towards a world shaped by AI, where our thinking skills are what count.

In the early days, work was about staying alive – work hard, get results. Farming societies depended on manual labor; the Industrial Revolution then brought in machines and changed society completely. Next, the digital age introduced new challenges. Baby Boomers liked stability in their jobs, but Gen X began to mix old work values with new tech roles. Millennials, growing up with digital tech, wanted work that was meaningful and flexible, that matched their personal goals.

Today, AI is transforming jobs and careers. It's changing the old way of moving up a career ladder to a new world where being able to adapt is key.

This helps us see AI not as a threat to jobs but as a tool that makes us more efficient and helps us come up with new ideas.

With AI, we need to think beyond just keeping a job to developing a variety of skills. Professionalism now means combining our creativity with what AI can do, leading to a future where our job is more about big ideas and planning, not just doing tasks.

Looking forward to a world with more advanced AI, things get even more interesting. Work could be about personal happiness and helping society, not just making money. In such a world, ideas like getting a basic income for everyone could be important to support people when traditional jobs aren't as common.

How do we fit into this future? Start by changing how you think. See AI as a helper to make your work better, giving you more time for thinking big and being creative. Keep learning new things, especially about how AI can add to what you're good at. Think about how AI can handle the everyday stuff for you, so you can focus on things like understanding people's feelings, making plans, and coming up with new ideas.

There's a view that you don't have to focus only on AI in your career. But, this might miss how fast technology, especially AI, is growing and changing things. AI isn't just about replacing old jobs; it's making new ones. Even if AI doesn't take over certain jobs right away, it's changing what those jobs involve. So, it's smart to add AI knowledge to your skills, not as the only thing you do but as something extra.

Some think AI's not ready yet and isn't a big deal. But, history shows tech can go from being new to being everywhere really fast. So, ignoring AI because it's still developing might be short-sighted.

Just focusing on what jobs pay right now could limit your future options, as what's in demand can change. Staying up-to-date with new tech keeps you relevant in a job market that's always changing.

While it's good to pick a career based on what you like and what you're good at, not seeing how important AI is becoming in many jobs could mean missing out on chances to grow your career and protect your future. A balanced approach that recognises how fast tech is moving and focuses on staying flexible and learning will help you move forward in your career with AI.

This future is not just about being good with tech; it's about having good taste, thinking deeply, and using AI to add something special to your work.

Every professional, no matter their field, is now at a point where they can choose the usual way or try something new. Take a marketer in this AI world, for example. Their job is more than just looking at numbers and making content. It's about telling stories that connect with people on a personal level – stories that AI on its own can't create. This is where your skill in understanding and connecting with people turns numbers into stories that grab people's attention.

In every job, what's expected is moving from just doing tasks to making experiences that really touch people. If you're in a creative job like designing or writing, use AI to push the limits of your creativity. AI might give you lots of options, but choosing the one that feels right for your audience is where your skill shines. In this scenario you're not just doing your job; you're making people feel something special.

For those with technical jobs, there's a lot more to do than just write code or make systems work better. Use AI to get ahead of problems and make solutions that are not just useful but also forward-thinking. Picture making systems that don't just do jobs but grow and change, making an environment where people and tech work better together.

Here’s my view:

1. Mix AI with your personal insights: Let AI handle the numbers, but you give them meaning based on what you know and your insights.

2. Think outside the box: Use AI to come up with new ideas. If you're making content, let AI start the process, but add your own unique style and voice to make it stand out.

3. Keep learning: AI is always changing. Stay ahead by learning about new AI tools and thinking about how they can make your work better.

4. Look at the big picture: Use AI to move beyond just doing tasks. Think about the larger effects of your work. What long-term changes are you making? How is your job changing in this new world?

When AI is becoming a big part of work, we're rethinking what it means to be successful in our jobs. It's a world where being efficient and getting a lot done is balanced with being creative, making an impact, and thinking about the future. We're moving past just doing tasks and using AI to think bigger, be more creative, and make a lasting mark in our fields. I believe the future is for those who can mix what AI can do with a deep understanding of their area of work, creating a balance where tech makes us better, and we guide tech towards doing great things.

In this world where AI is everywhere, the big question is not just how we'll adjust, but how we'll really do well, rethinking our value not by what we do, but by how we think.

MP