Will AI replace our jobs?

//Posted on Medium as well.

Since the exponential growth of AI, particularly in 2023 with the emergence of ChatGPT-3, it has presented incontrovertible evidence that AI is capable of performing many tasks better than humans. Consequently, the question “Will AI replace my job?” has become ubiquitous, and my team grapples with it daily, I thought I’d write a post to reflect my thoughts.

I was excited but also concerned when AI became the hottest topic last year. My concern was not about the job security, but on our readiness for the AI revolution and how to mitigate potential risks, particularly in the hands of someone malevolent. Criminal activities exist with no correlation to AI, however, it has the potential to significantly amplify the scale and scope of such foul intentions. However, this shouldn’t dissuade us from embracing the power of AI.

A year in, our understanding of AI has deepened, and many of us have found AI to be highly beneficial. We now have numerous AI tools that can generate content ranging from UX copy to UI design. While most AI-generated designs are still hit or miss, they are continually improving and are poised to become even more powerful. What does this mean for us as product designers?

I want to share an intriguing story. Although I am not familiar with how to play the ancient game of Go, I enjoy reading the stories of the Go players. You might be aware that in 2016, “AlphaGo” defeated the world champion Lee Sedol, leading to his subsequent retirement. This victory marked a significant milestone for AI, as the game of Go is renowned for its complexity and vast number of potential positions. This transformative event has changed the way Go players train, as they now closely integrate with technology.

Moving on to the story — during the Asian Games last September, Taiwanese player Xu Haohong (world ranking #35) upset the Chinese player Ke Jie (world ranking #2) and won the Gold medal. Xu later revealed in an interview that he deliberately made a move that he knew AI would advise against, opting to rely on his intuition. This unexpected move caught his opponent off guard, and Xu ultimately stuck with it, securing a narrow victory.

Unbeknownst to me, AI plays a significant role in the training of professional Go players. Those top players of the game can anticipate and play like AI, ultimately suggesting a potential way to surpass AI.

How does this story relate to the question of whether AI will replace our jobs? Human beings may strive for perfection, yet we also value and appreciate imperfection, particularly in the realm of arts and creativity. We may not — nor do we purposefully want to — be able to function like robots, which aim for consistent and high-quality output. ​Our strengths lie in our unique human thinking, distinct from the systematic approach of AI. Therefore, I believe we remain relevant by providing unique and creative thinking and intuition, even in the face of AI’s advancements. In a way, it’s an anti-pattern.

This post reflects my current thoughts regarding our roles in the AI era. Although I mentioned how we could surpass AI, I believe we will improve our world by leveraging the power of AI, instead of competing with it.