AI-generated summary
Technological innovations have historically sparked debates oscillating between optimism about easing workers’ tasks and fears of job loss. Unlike past innovations that mainly affected manual labor, generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming non-routine cognitive tasks, particularly in the knowledge sector. According to the 2024 Annual Work Trend Index by Microsoft and LinkedIn, 75% of knowledge workers already use AI daily, benefiting from time savings, enhanced creativity, and greater satisfaction. AI is expected to reshape work through task automation, role transformation, and the creation of new jobs, with some routine tasks fully automated and complex tasks augmented by human-machine collaboration.
AI’s impact varies across sectors: repetitive tasks are highly automatable, affecting up to 63% of work hours in some fields, while roles requiring creativity and judgment remain human-centric. The market value of certain jobs may decline, while others, like remote software development, face higher automation risks compared to healthcare or gastronomy. AI also democratizes skills, enabling diverse individuals to enhance their capabilities without deep technical knowledge. New professions such as Prompt Engineer and AI Ethics Specialist are emerging. To thrive amid these changes, companies must focus on continuous training and a human-centered approach, balancing technology with workforce development to foster innovation and collaboration rather than mere job replacement.
Artificial intelligence is positioned as one of the paths that will forever change the way we understand the world of work
Each wave of Technological innovation generates debates that, historically, oscillate between optimism (of those who see technology as a tool to lighten the tasks of workers) and pessimism (of those who fear the loss of jobs). The development and mass application of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not exempt from this dynamic, but if previous innovations mostly affected manual workers, AI is influencing non-routine cognitive tasks, especially performed by workers in the knowledge sector.
75% of these workers already use AI in their daily tasks, according to The 2024 Annual Work Trend Index, a report produced by Microsoft and LinkedIn. Benefits include
What changes can we expect?
It seems possible to say that tasks with low potential for transformation through the Generative AI will continue to be performed exclusively by humans, while new high-value tasks could emerge as a result of the recomposition of work. Broadly speaking, the impact of AI and Machine Learning (ML) on the world of work is manifested through:
Automation of repetitive tasks. Large language models (LLMs) will transform many routine tasks. The investigations indicate that AI could influence up to 63% of working hours in certain sectors, while in others the impact would be less (9%).
Changes in the market value of some professions and activities. Remuneration for performing certain tasks will decrease, as highlighted in this analysis.
Transformation of specific roles. Jobs that can be done remotely, such as software development, are more susceptible, while jobs in sectors such as healthcare and gastronomy face less risk of automation.
Democratization of skills. The proliferation of generative AI tools allows people from different backgrounds to improve their skills without the need for in-depth technical expertise.
New professions. New roles such as ‘ Prompt Engineer’, ‘AI Ethics Specialist’ and ‘AI Business Translator’ are born.
The truth is that each job is more than the sum of its tasks, and generative AI is better suited to those that involve recurring processes or intensive language handling. Because of this, routine tasks are candidates for full automation, while those that require creativity and judgment can benefit from augmented intelligence: Humans + machines.
The impact of AI at work has yet to be consolidated, but studies such as the one by Goldman Sachs suggests that a quarter of current work activities in Europe and the United States could be automated within the next decade. However, it is expected that, in addition to automation, new roles will emerge thanks to the complementarity of AI, allowing the creation of innovative services and new job opportunities.
In this sense, it is possible to carry out another type of job classification in the AI era:
AI jobs: Fully automated activities that were previously performed by people.
Improved Jobs: Jobs that are significantly improved by AI, increasing productivity without replacing human intervention.
Augmented Jobs: More complex tasks that combine human skills with AI capabilities to take on new responsibilities.
New Jobs: Positions that did not exist before the emergence of AI, such as engineers specializing in AI.
How to Survive Change
The adoption of generative AI does not only involve replacing tasks, but redesigning processes and reimagining the work experience. Companies must prioritize human development, ensuring that workers are an active part of this transformation, activating training and updating programs that are committed to continuous training in AI-related skills. Professionals are already adapting: since the beginning of 2016, the number of LinkedIn members with AI skills it has increased 9 times globally.
AI is not limited to replacing jobs, but acts as a catalyst for innovation and efficiency, opening up possibilities for collaboration and value creation. This requires a balance between technology adoption and human management. The key to success lies in a responsible and people-centred approach, as seen with programmes such as Akademia of the Bankinter Innovation Foundation, which bring these technologies closer to professionals from various sectors, allowing their application in daily work.
