The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace is no longer a distant possibility; it’s real and transforming how we work. While many viewed its emergence as a fad, the speed of adoption surprised many, creating a new reality. According to the 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report by Microsoft and LinkedIn, a staggering 75% of knowledge workers already use generative AI in their daily tasks, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. AI continues to disrupt and displace, causing concern among white- and blue-collar workers. According to global investment bank Goldman Sachs, AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million jobs. As a worker, how does one prepare for an AI-powered world and the future workforce?
This blog post reviews the recent findings from the LinkedIn and Microsoft 2024 Work Trends Index Annual Report. We’ll also explore four powerful solutions – edX, Udacity, Deel, and LearnWorlds (Learning Management Systems) – that can help you upskill, gain hands-on experience, and position yourself as a sought-after asset in the AI-powered job market. Embracing AI is no longer an option; it’s necessary for professionals seeking to thrive in the rapidly evolving workforce, so let’s dive in.
The Work Trend Index Annual Report: A Summary
The 2024 Work Trends Index Annual Report by Microsoft and LinkedIn revealed some insights on the impact of AI on the global workplace. With an objective to help companies overcome AI inertia, the companies surveyed 31,000 people across 31 countries. The analysis involved an analysis of hiring and labor trends from LinkedIn trillions of Microsoft 365 productivity signals and additional insights gathered from Fortune 500 companies. You can view the report here. Key findings include:
Worker AI Adoption Rates Are Accelerating
A staggering 75% of knowledge workers are already using AI at work, with many bringing their own AI tools without organizational approval. Approximately 78% of AI users are bringing their own AI to work. (BYOAI). This trend transcends generations and is most embraced by GenZ and least by Boomers, but not as much as we expected. More generally, Many users report that AI helps them save time (90%), focus on their most important work (85%), be more creative (84%), and enjoy work more (83%).
Survey of Bring Your Own AI (BYOAI) Activities
AI Skills Create a Clear Workplace Advantage
This rapid adoption of AI is reshaping the labor market and redefining the skills required for success. However, talent bottlenecks continue to build with 55% of leaders concerned about having enough talent to fill roles. Key sectors struggling to fill AI roles include:
- Research and Development
- Manufacturing
- Supply Chain Management
- Human Resources
- Engineering
- Cybersecurity
It’s also clear that possessing AI skills creates a clear competitive advantage. As the report highlights, 66% of leaders say they wouldn’t hire someone without AI skills, and 71% would prefer a less experienced candidate with AI aptitude over a more experienced one without it. The writing is on the wall: AI proficiency is no longer an optional skill but a necessity for career growth and job security. Professionals who fail to adapt risk being left behind in an increasingly AI-driven workforce.
The Worldwide Talent Grab for AI Jobs is On
Employers worldwide continue to rush to build AI talent and capabilities in their organizations with hiring up 323% over the past eight years. When looking at core roles and industries such as Management and Consulting, Creative Design, Business Development, HR, and Finance, companies seek workers with AI aptitude in various jobs. For 12% of recruiters surveyed, new roles are being developed specifically tied to the use of generative AI. AI jobs are becoming important. For example, the Head of AI is emerging as a must-have leadership role. It’s an AI job that tripled over the past five years and grew by more than 28% in 2023.
One interesting observation that’s emerged in the report suggests that 45% of US executives are not currently investing in AI tools or products for their employees. It appears to be a concern as technological borders continue to be dismantled and global competitiveness intensifies.
Staying Ahead of the Curve
So, how can you stay ahead of the curve and position yourself for success in this AI-powered landscape? From the Partnerships for Growth portfolio at ClearSky 2100, here are four powerful solutions to help you upskill and future-proof your career. Let’s explore.
edX a MOOC Leader
edX, a pioneer in the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) sector and a leading online learning platform, offers many AI-related courses from top universities and institutions worldwide. From introductory courses on machine learning and deep learning to advanced topics like natural language processing and computer vision, edX provides a comprehensive learning experience tailored to various skill levels and career goals.
One of the standout features of edX is its partnership with prestigious universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, LSE, Oxford, and TU Delft, ensuring you receive high-quality, industry-relevant education from renowned experts in the field. Whether you’re a beginner seeking a solid foundation or an experienced professional looking to stay ahead of the curve, edX’s diverse course offerings cater to your needs. Suggested AI-related courses to explore include:
- MIT Sloan School of Management: Artificial Intelligence – Implications for Business Strategy
- TU Delft: AI In Practice – Applying AI
- Babson College: AI For Leaders
- Harvard University: CS50’s Introduction to Cybersecurity
These are just a snippet of courses available on the platform. Many of the courses are free, with options to upgrade to full access to course materials and professional certificates upon completion.
Udacity: Future Proofing Careers with AI
Udacity’s innovative approach to online learning focuses on project-based curricula, providing you with practical, hands-on experience in AI development. With courses designed in collaboration with industry leaders like Google, Amazon, and IBM, you’ll work on real-world projects that mirror the challenges you’ll face in the workforce.
Udacity’s learning is delivered through various schools, which include:
- Data Science
- Program & Development
- Artificial Intelligence
- Business
- Autonomous Systems
- Product Management
- Cloud Computing
Udacity’s Nanodegree programs, such as the AI for Healthcare Nanodegree and the Machine Learning Engineer Nanodegree, offer a comprehensive learning experience that combines video lectures, coding exercises, and mentorship from industry experts. By completing these programs, you’ll not only gain theoretical knowledge but also develop a portfolio of projects that demonstrate your AI proficiency to potential employers. Suggested courses and programs to explore include:
- Introduction to Machine Learning with TensorFlow
- Discovering Ethical AI
- AI Product Manager
- AWS Machine Learning Engineer – Nanodegree
- Deep Learning – Nanodegree
Udacity’s offerings are geared toward expanding your technical knowledge allowing learners to gain the AI skills necessary for AI upskilling and reskilling to stay competitive. It’s an excellent option to establish that career pivot or build on your existing skill set to future-proof your career.
Deel: Arbitraging the Global Talent Pool
As employers rush to build AI capabilities across various areas of their organization, opportunities to arbitrage the global labor pool are growing. Whether on skills, compensation, or location, Deel provides employers with a robust platform to take advantage of global hiring trends capturing best-in-class talent. Deel is the leading all-in-one HR workforce management solution to support hiring global teams. The company is present in over 150 countries with Employer of Record services available in more than 100 countries offering several workforce management solutions which include:
Talent Acquisition Speed is Critical
As AI continues to reshape the workforce the demand for AI specialists is skyrocketing, creating lucrative opportunities for freelancers and independent contractors. However, given the talent deficit, the ability to quickly identify and onboard talent is crucial. More importantly, creating an exceptional employee experience is important to prevent job-hopping, a consequence of AI skill supply-demand fundamentals. Deel, empowers employers to tap into this global talent pool and secure AI talent no matter where they are. With Deel, companies worldwide, handling the complexities of international payments, taxes, and compliance with ease. Deel’s capabilities are best in class allowing employers to onboard talent anytime, anywhere in 5 minutes or less. Whether you’re an AI developer, data scientist, or machine learning engineer, Deel provides a platform to support an excellent employee experience as you join companies worldwide.
LearnWorlds LMS: Create and Sell Your Own AI Courses
If you’re an AI expert or enthusiast with a passion for teaching, LearnWorlds LMS (Learning Management System) offers a powerful platform to create and sell your own AI courses. Companies and tech and financial services continue to restructure for an AI future and layoffs increase, it’s also creating opportunities for solopreneurs and others to bring thier skills and knowledge to a broader audience.
Learnworlds with its user-friendly interface and comprehensive suite of features, you can design engaging, multimedia-rich courses that cater to learners of all levels. LearnWorlds allows you to monetize your expertise by offering courses on a subscription or one-time payment basis. You can also leverage its built-in marketing tools to promote your courses and reach a global audience of learners eager to acquire AI skills. While the platform is great for individuals to build an online business through sharing knowledge, it also provides value for organizations as they seek to engage with customers for sales and marketing or employees as they onboard into a new organization.
AI Jobs and the Future of Work is Now
Finally, embracing AI is no longer an option; it’s a necessity for knowledge workers and professionals seeking to thrive in a rapidly evolving workforce. By leveraging the power of edX, Udacity, Deel, and LearnWorlds LMS, employees can equip themselves with the AI skills needed for AI jobs in the global job market. Remember, the key to success lies not only in acquiring knowledge of AI but also in its practical application. Whatever your sector, engage in hands-on projects, collaborate with industry experts, and continuously refine your AI skills to stay ahead of the curve. There is no doubt that the future of work is AI driven, and those who embrace this paradigm shift will be the ones shaping the workforce of tomorrow. Embrace the challenge, invest in your AI education, build your AI skills and prepare to unlock new horizons of career growth and professional fulfillment.
