Practical AI: AI Isn't Going to Steal Your Job

AI's quick rise to the forefront over the past several years has sparked widespread concern about job displacement. However, the narrative that AI will steal jobs is neither a certainty nor a foregone conclusion. Instead, AI is reshaping the job market by automating some tasks and creating new opportunities. In our practical AI entry today, we'll explore why AI is not poised to take over your job, and how you can leverage this technology to your advantage.  We'll also drop include a micro exercise on how you can analyze your own role to see what tasks you can use AI tools for already.  Before we dive in we should note the exercise is specifically focused on workplace, real estate, and facilities teams.  However, the exercise included can be used by anyone for any field.

AI Transforms Tasks, Not Entire Jobs

One of the primary misconceptions about AI is that it will replace entire job roles. In reality, AI is more likely to automate specific tasks within a job rather than eliminate the job itself. For instance, AI can handle repetitive or time-consuming tasks, allowing us to focus on more complex and creative aspects of their work. This task-oriented approach means that while some tasks may become automated, the demand for human oversight and creativity remains strong.  

This is especially true for fields that have a connection to the physical world. AI should be viewed as a tool that enhances human capabilities rather than replacing professionals.  For those of us in workplace, facilities, and corporate real estate, our tasks are undeniably connected to real-world actions.  Because of this, there are only so many tasks that can be automated or augmented in our world.  In essence AI can speed us up and alleviate some burden, but it can't do our jobs. It can, however, give us the time to focus on human experiences.

A Quick Exercise

So how much of your job can be automated or augmented by Ai tools today?  Well there's an easy way to find out.  Below you'll find an exercise example that you and your team can go through in order to assess this for yourself.  An important lens to look through as you do this exercise yourself is what tools you can use to accomplish the automation or augmentation.  There are many existing tools today that can automate or augment already and just a simple Google search can help you find them.

To start the exercise consider your tasks in three main buckets for change: automation, augmentation, and no change.  

1. Write out the tasks that you perform on a daily or weekly basis.
2. Decide whether they fit into any of the three categories for potential automating, augmenting, or if they are not able to be augmented or automated (no change).
3. Label them with the type of change that is possible based on your assessment.
4. Rate the potential for augmenting or automating the tasks from those two categories.
5. Make note of any potential blockers or issues that you may be able to shift in the future to further allow augmentation or automation.
6. Make the change by implementing the systems you discussed.

In the example above you can see that while some of the daily tasks of a typical workplace professional can be augmented - only one can be automated.  The rest are very much still being done by the team member.  That's because of internal blockers, systems that aren't integrated, or the requirement for physical presence . However, by augmenting or automating some of these tasks we can free up time to focus on the others.  

There is a good example of this in the above exercise.  If the facilities manager can automate that weekly report creation, they can now focus their time on listening more to employee feedback / interacting with their internal customers to create a better experience.  That means a more healthy, safe, and positive environment for their teams and that's definitely a good thing.

Conclusion

The key to continuing to stay relevant in any job market is to remain adaptable. Those who embrace new technology like AI and learn to work alongside it will have a competitive edge. By understanding how to leverage AI tools, we can enhance our productivity and contribute to innovation within our organizations. This adaptability ensures that we remain relevant and valuable in a rapidly changing landscape.  

AI is not here to steal your job; it is here to transform the way we work. By automating and augmenting routine tasks, AI enables us to focus on what truly matters—creativity, strategic thinking, and human connection. As this continues to evolve, embracing AI as a collaborative tool will open up new opportunities and ensure that we remain indispensable as workplace, facilities, and real estate professionals. Rather than fearing AI, we should harness its potential to enhance our roles and drive employee experience in the built environment.