The Impact of AI and Automation on IT Jobs: What Are Your Opportunities and Challenges for the Future

AI and automation are rapidly changing the way we live and work. And nowhere is this transformation more evident than in the world of information technology — automation and chatbots powered by technologies such as GPT redefined the way IT businesses operate, and IT professionals work. And with these changes comes the question, “What will be the impact of AI and automation on IT jobs? Will they create more opportunities or, instead, take away jobs from humans?". In this post, we will explore the potential impact of AI and automation on the IT industry and discover what the future holds for IT professionals.

Automation Across Different Industries

Let's face it: automation and AI vastly affect our lives today. They have already impacted the workforce in different industries far beyond IT – manufacturing, transport, healthcare, law, engineering, and even journalism. Employment rates in these spheres dropped terrifically after the introduction of AI and robots. And a report by PwC predicts that nearly 30% of all jobs in different industries may be automated by the mid-2030s.

Source: PwC UK

The industries that are expected to be impacted by AI the most include:

• finance
• hospitality and tourism
• medicine
• automotive
• and cybersecurity (where AI and machine learning can be of great use for detecting and anticipating threats)

However, whereas some roles are expected to be replaced by AI, others can be augmented. Plus, some new jobs are predicted to be created due to automatization – the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report estimates that 97 million new job openings will emerge due to technological development by 2025. With that, there's certainly evidence that specific jobs will require higher levels of human judgment than ever before. Goldman Sachs economists predict that 300 million jobs will be affected by the latest wave of AI. They also note that in the US and Europe, approximately ⅔ of current jobs “are already exposed to some degree of AI automation,” whereas ¼ of all work could be done by AI completely. “Without a doubt, the GPT-4 chatbot has taken the world by storm with its ability to simplify accounting, rapidly create a website from a sketch, pass exams with the highest marks, and many more. And further use of such bots will likely lead to job losses” the Goldman Sachs economists state. Yet, they also noted that throughout history, tech innovations that initially displace workers create employment growth over the long haul. This means that the widespread adoption of AI can potentially increase labor productivity and boost global GDP by 7% annually over a 10-year period. The economists also added that most jobs would be only partially exposed to automation and, thus, they are more likely to be complemented rather than substituted by AI. And thanks to the combination of significant labor cost savings, the emergence of new jobs, and a productivity boost for non-displaced workers, there are more chances of a labor productivity boom in general.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Automation

As with all previous human innovations, any innovation creates value, no matter how controversial it initially seems. Technological changes eliminate specific jobs, but they always create more in the process. So, we believe that AI is no exception, and it’ll have a positive impact in general. For now, the benefits of automation are:

• Reduction of labor costs
• Increased productivity
• Improved quality

From this, it's easy to conclude that automation also poses worker re-skilling. No matter the industry, employees will need to hone their skills and/or acquire new ones that will be relevant to the current market's needs.

AI in IT. Predictions

With the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, many programmers began to wonder whether their job would be affected by this technology. And within a short time, it became obvious that ChatGPT could write code for software and even check programming languages for errors. The recent IBM survey revealed that about 33% of all companies currently using AI reported that they chose this technology to automate IT processes. How crucial is this? While some experts predict that AI may really replace coding jobs, others argue that it's impossible in the foreseeable future due to ChatGPT's reliance on existing code datasets. Plus, ChatGPT currently has limitations in finding innovative solutions and providing appropriate code for specific contexts, requiring human review. It’s important to understand that while ChatGPT can generate simple code, it lacks critical thinking and creativity. So, programmers are safe because they need to analyze complex problems and develop efficient solutions that require logical thinking, creativity, and teamwork. Meanwhile, ChatGPT can become a valuable tool for Java developers to generate code for mundane and trivial tasks, freeing up their time for more important work. Hence, greater productivity.Furthermore, the vast majority of experts believe AI has the potential to provide more job opportunities for IT specialists, and there are already some job opportunities created with AIs and automation:

• Software developer opportunities to create bots
• Data Scientists
• Research and development

Top 5 Skills You Need to Win Over AI

To compete with ChatGPT and other forms of AI, Java developers need to shift from too techy skills and focus on developing the skills that leverage the unique strengths of human intelligence.

1. Critical thinking. Whereas AI and ChatGPT excel at executing predefined rules and patterns, they lack the ability to think critically and creatively. That’s why developers should focus on enhancing critical thinking skills that will help them analyze complex problems, identify potential pitfalls, and design effective solutions in the long run.
2. Creativity. AI is also missing the creativity and ingenuity of human intelligence. So, developers need to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to complex problems.
3. Problem-solving. Software developers should focus on developing strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to break down complex problems into smaller components, identify potential solutions, and choose the best approaches.
4. Domain expertise. While AI can learn about different domains, it falls short of the deep knowledge and expertise that comes from years of experience in a specific field. Developers should be passionate about their profession and specialize deeply in what they are doing to create high-quality software.
5. Soft skills. AI still can’t work within a team and communicate effectively with humans. So, adaptability, teamwork, and good communication skills will become more important than ever. Developers who can communicate technical concepts clearly and concisely will be valuable assets to any team.

Also, please note that social skills like the ability to meet new people and build meaningful connections have suffered a decline due to the social isolation caused by the pandemic. But as the world returns to pre-pandemic times, such social skills will be highly welcome too, especially if you work in a team. Speaking about technical skills, in 2023, Indeed lists the following "hard" skills as the most demandable:

• Technical writing
• Coding
• Network configuration
• Hardware deployment
• Operating system knowledge
• Database management

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, AI and automation are transforming the IT industry, creating both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, these technologies automate routine and repetitive tasks, allowing software developers to focus on higher-value activities such as innovation, problem-solving, and strategic planning. On the other hand, as AI continues to evolve, IT professionals should up-skill themselves in order to remain relevant in the job market. With the IT market becoming increasingly competitive, it's essential to keep up with the latest trends and technologies. At CodeGym, we understand the importance of staying current in the fast-paced world of software development. That's why our course is always evolving. So, if you want to enhance your skills and stay on top of the game, let’s get back to learning with CodeGym.