ChatGPT has shaken the world forcing it to recognise how far AI has come. The world now stands divided into two groups of people: those who are jazzed up about AI and ChatGPT, and those who are shaking in their boots with dread and apprehension because of them. The former have now finally found a trustworthy friend to assist them with their work, and the latter believes that these new smart kids are coming for their jobs. 

Fear not, my dear friends, the end of your professional world is not as near as you think! To truly grasp the power and potential of AI and ChatGPT, we must first understand their inner workings. Shall we? 

AI uses fancy techniques and algorithms to analyze ‘data’, learn patterns, and make decisions based on cognitive abilities that humans have, such as learning, reasoning, perception, and decision-making. Think of it like a computer trying to be as smart as a human (good luck with that, silicon brains). One of the ways it does this is through machine learning, where it trains on massive amounts of ‘data’ to predict new stuff.

ChatGPT, on the other hand, is like a language model on steroids. It uses deep learning to understand natural language and generate responses that sound like a human wrote them (although they might be a bit off at times). It’s pre-trained on tons of internet text, which lets it do cool stuff like finish our sentences or answer our questions. It can also have a conversation with us (that’s pretty cool!)

You would notice that AI and ChatGPT use loads or ‘words’ and ‘datasets’ to be useful, fast and efficient in creating more ‘words’, ‘datasets’ and ‘clarity’. This means if our job role doesn’t involve ‘words’ and ‘datasets’, we’re in the clear, my friend. We can kick back and enjoy the show. But if we’re in a job that heavily relies on ‘words’ and ‘datasets’, then we better watch out! AI and ChatGPT might steal our thunder. They make our skills available to a wider audience, which means more competition for us. Also, AI and ChatGPT work 24 x 7 x 365 to narrow the knowledge divide in the market. A few among us may face the same risks as:

• Skilled craftsmen faced during the Industrial Revolution, where weavers were replaced by handloom machines. 
• Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and translators faced with the coming of Search Engines. 
• Typists, stenographers, typesetters, and clerks faced with the spread of cheaper and portable computing machines.
• Senior photographers and filmmakers faced the availability of affordable digital cameras, smartphones and portals.
• Fine artists faced the rise of digital artists and software.

It’s hard to say which jobs will be hit the hardest by AI, ChatGPT and its language-models, but one thing is for sure: if our job doesn’t involve ‘words’ and ‘datasets’, then we’re in a pretty good spot. Sure, almost all jobs involve some form of communication or language or data analysis, but some jobs are safer than others. Here are a few examples:

1. Athletes and Sports professionals: Although athletes may communicate with their coaches and teammates, their performance is primarily based on physical ability and training rather than verbal communication.
2. Surgeons: Surgeons perform physical procedures that require technical skill and precision, and while communication with the surgical team is important, it may be limited during the procedure.
3. Scientists: While scientists do use language to communicate their findings, their work is primarily based on experimentation, observation, and analysis.
4. Mathematicians: Math is a universal language and relies heavily on numbers, symbols, and equations rather than words.
5. Engineers: Engineers use math and technical drawings to design and create structures, machines, and systems, and while communication is important, it’s not the primary focus of their work.
6. Farmers: Farmers primarily work with the land and animals, and while some communication is necessary, it’s not the main focus of their work.
7. Live Performers and Entertainers: Performers and Entertainers like actors, stand-up, and singers bring individuality through mannerism, timing and diction, and though words are important to their profession, it is secondary to their core skills of acting and performing.
8. Entrepreneurs and business owners: These professionals are responsible for identifying market opportunities and creating innovative solutions, which requires a high degree of human judgment and strategic thinking.
9. Psychologists and social workers: These professions involve working with people to provide emotional support and guidance, which may be difficult for AI to replicate due to the complexity and vagaries of human emotions and behavior, especially those needing mental care.
10. Pilots: Pilots rely on technical knowledge and training to operate aircraft, and while communication with air traffic control is important, much of the job involves nonverbal tasks.
11. Construction workers: Construction workers use tools and physical labor to build structures, and while some communication is necessary for teamwork and safety, it’s not the primary focus of their work.
12. Athlete coaches: While communication is important for coaching athletes, much of the job involves demonstrating techniques and observing the athletes’ performance.
13. Landscapers: Landscapers use their expertise to design and maintain outdoor spaces, and while some communication may be necessary for client relations and direction, much of the job involves physical tasks.
14. Firefighters: Firefighters perform physically demanding tasks that require technical training and skill, and while communication with the team is important, much of the job involves nonverbal tasks and physical exertion.
15. Politicians and policymakers: These professionals are responsible for making decisions based on complex social and economic factors, which may require a high degree of human judgment and strategic thinking, but may not always be logical. Besides, it is difficult to match the cunning of a politician :).

It’s worth mentioning that even in the professions mentioned above, some degree of communication, language and data use is still required, and the extent to which these impacts the job may differ.

Moving forward, let’s explore some potential scenarios in which language models such as AI and ChatGPT may substitute, or make certain professional skills accessible to a larger population, thus intensifying competition. It’s worth noting that AI does not pose an existential threat until it matures to a level where total substitution of the following professions is feasible.

1. Customer service representatives: If chatbots or language models like ChatGPT are used to replace human customer service representatives, it may lead to a decrease in customer satisfaction, as chatbots may not be able to understand and respond to complex customer inquiries or complaints as effectively as a human representative.
2. Translators and interpreters: While language models can be helpful in translating or interpreting simple sentences, they may struggle with more complex or nuanced language, leading to inaccuracies and errors in translations.
3. Writers, editors and journalists: While language models can be useful for generating ideas or providing background information, they may struggle to write coherent and compelling articles or stories, leading to a decrease in the quality of journalism.
4. Psychologists and therapists: If language models are used to replace human psychologists or therapists, it may lead to a decrease in the quality of care, as language models may not be able to understand and respond to patients’ emotions and mental states as effectively as a human therapist.
5. Legal professionals: While language models can be helpful in drafting legal documents or conducting legal research, they may struggle with interpreting and applying legal precedents or regulations, leading to inaccuracies and errors in legal advice or representation.
6. Teachers and educators: If language models are used to replace human teachers, it may lead to a decrease in the quality of education, as language models may not be able to engage with students or adapt to their individual learning needs as effectively as a human teacher.
7. Salespeople and marketers: If chatbots or language models are used to replace human salespeople or marketers, it may lead to a decrease in sales, as chatbots may not be able to build relationships with customers or tailor their pitches to individual needs and preferences as effectively as a human salesperson.
8. Entry skilled Creative professionals: Language models can be helpful for generating ideas or providing inspiration, it will eliminate the need for entry level creative people whose work is mostly based on aggregation or doing inspired work from someone else’s creativity.
9. Entry level Healthcare professionals: If language models are used to replace human healthcare professionals, it may lead to a decrease in the quality of care, as language models may not be able to understand and respond to patients’ needs and symptoms as effectively as a human healthcare provider.
10. Social workers and counselors: If language models are used to replace human social workers or counselors, it may lead to a decrease in the quality of care, as language models may not be able to provide the emotional support and empathy that is crucial in these professions.
11. Psychologists and therapists: Psychologists and therapists use language and communication skills to diagnose and treat mental health issues, and their ability to communicate effectively with clients is crucial.
12. Customer service representatives: Chatbots and AI-powered virtual assistants are already being used in many customer service roles, and these technologies are likely to become even more advanced in the future.
13. Administrative assistants and secretaries: AI-powered tools such as speech recognition software and virtual assistants can help automate many administrative tasks, reducing the need for human workers.
14. Data analysts and data scientists: These professions involve working with large datasets to identify patterns and make data-driven decisions, which can be significantly enhanced by AI and machine learning algorithms.
15. Financial traders and analysts: These professionals rely heavily on data and analysis to make decisions about investments and financial markets, and AI-powered tools can provide insights and predictions that are difficult for humans to replicate.

Finally, allow me to conclude by dropping some truth bombs. 

Technology is a fickle beast, and its impact on our job can swing either way. In today’s world, having some level of tech know-how is crucial for most professions. Whether we like it or not, AI and other fancy tech gadgets will continue to dominate many lives and work in the coming years. So, whether these technologies are putting our job at risk or not, we should get ourselves upskilled and learn to use them like a pro. Try Skillshare to pick diverse skills.

However if you are one of those who is safe so far and is not frazzled by the future either, then keep doing what you are doing man. Two hoots is what you need to give to AI and ChatGPT.