Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work: Will AI Replace Human Workers?
In just a few years, artificial intelligence has moved from the backroom to our desks — not as an assistant, but as a co-decision maker. Where the role of artificial intelligence used to be supportive, it now directly affects how jobs are created, lost, or transformed. The question is no longer just whether AI will take jobs, but what role humans will play in the new work order — as a leader, a partner, or in a completely new function that we are still sketching out.
Job losses and restructuring
Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, warns that AI could replace up to 50% of white-collar jobs in the next five years, particularly in clerical roles where tasks are repetitive and easily automated. This could lead to an increase in unemployment of 10-20%. Analytical, bureaucratic and support jobs, whose value lies in following a process rather than in creative contributions, are under particular pressure. Even more worryingly, automation will also put pressure on the entry-level workforce – entry-level positions that have so far allowed young people to start their careers could disappear, narrowing social mobility and increasing inequality. Business Insider
New opportunities and reassessment of skills
However, the development of AI does not only mean a decrease in jobs, but also creates a need for new types of skills and opens doors to completely new fields. A global study by Deloitte shows that 69% of technology companies plan to increase hiring due to the introduction of AI. Companies such as Nvidia and DeepMind emphasize that the greatest value is created precisely where people and AI work together – in design, data interpretation, decision-making processes. Technological skills gain strategic significance, but meta-skills also become important: problem solving, critical thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration. AI does not only require engineers – but also people who can use technology to conceptualize and design new solutions. Business Insider
Deskilling – a side effect of passive use
One of the subtler dangers of AI is “deskilling” – a situation where workers lose the habit of analyzing, thinking and deciding independently because a machine can do it faster. While AI can make work more efficient, it can also dissipate human cognitive effort. For example, text generators and search engines can make it easier to find information, but reduce the substantive acquisition of knowledge. This is why conscious and ethical design becomes important: people must remain at the center of processes where they receive support from AI, but retain their own autonomous thinking. Reflexivity must be promoted in education and the workplace so that AI does not turn us into passive users, but into conscious leaders. Business Insider
New jobs and growth areas
McKinsey estimates that AI can automate up to 30% of existing jobs, while creating millions of new roles based on technology implementation, development and supervision. The focus of the labor market is shifting from routine tasks to design and decision-making: the need for AI-enabled product developers, machine learning model trainers, big data analysts and user experience designers is growing. In addition, there is a need for specialists who can translate AI solutions into a business context – for example, AI business consultants or domain-specific systems analysts. AI does not eliminate the workforce, but changes its function – from routine manual tasks to more creative, strategic and communication-based tasks. Technical skills are also not enough – the ability to understand, explain and ethically manage AI systems is becoming increasingly important. New jobs will not be born from technology itself, but from how it is integrated into everyday working life. McKinsey
Strategic management and skills development
Integrating AI requires clear leadership, vision, and ethics. More and more companies are appointing a Chief AI Officer, who is tasked with coordinating technology development with business strategy, ensuring regulatory compliance, and managing change within teams. But leadership alone is not enough — employees need support to adapt to the new work logic. In successful organizations, retraining becomes an ongoing activity, not a one-time response. AI skills are not limited to technical knowledge — it is also important to teach critical thinking and the ability to work with intelligent systems. The best results come when an organization builds a culture that supports AI, not just infrastructure. Maria Ramos Dominguez
Summary
Artificial intelligence is not destroying work, it is fundamentally changing it — tasks that were previously performed mechanically are being replaced by roles where creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration with AI become essential. Success is no longer just about technical skills, but about the ability to learn quickly, understand how systems work, and use technology strategically. The biggest challenge in the AI era is not job loss, but the inability to adapt to change. That’s why we should focus more on how to use AI to augment human capabilities, rather than fearing that machines will completely replace us.
