The week's developments on automation & the workplace, explained | 15.04.24

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Today’s newsletter features guest contributor Roger Spitz  — bestselling author, futurist, and founder of the Disruptive Futures Institute — as he shares 5 ways to activate your agency and thrive in an AI future.

Spitz breaks down 5 types of AI risk, drawing on his experience in AI investment and strategic foresight to provide actionable insights on how to manage them effectively. Find his opinion piece below, or read the full piece on the CogX Blog.

Also in focus, a new survey suggests AI training could help retain women in tech, a top Amazon exec says it’s a ‘myth’ robots steal jobs and the Wall Street's gruelling entry-level jobs being taken over by AI.

Find these stories and more below — including our productivity booster to help you excel in the AI-driven workplace.

— Charlie and the Research and Intelligence team

Ps. CogX Transatlantic Accelerator Early Bird offer ends TODAY: If you are or know a UK startup they can apply for over $20k worth of support to attend, exhibit and network at CogX Festival in LA on 7th May here

CogX Must Reads

Top Stories

🤖 GenAI poses a significant threat to the work of translators. A new survey published by the Society of Authors (SoA) — the UK's largest trade union for writers, illustrators, and translators — revealed more than a third of translators reported losing work due to the emerging technology, while over 40% experienced a decrease in income as a result.

👩🏻‍💻 Gen Z workers say they get better career advice from ChatGPT. Forget career coaches and bosses — nearly half of Gen Z workers say they get better career advice from ChatGPT than their managers. But is ChatGPT a reliable advisor? Some experts remain dubious.

👨🏻‍💼 AI is having a bit of a moment in the business world right now and a new C-suite role called Chief AI Officer (CAIO) is emerging to oversee its use. Armed with a deep understanding of AI, machine learning, and data science, a CAIO can effectively harness the power of AI to optimise operations, unlock new revenue streams, and gain a competitive edge.

😵‍💫 Has tech-induced stress with work led to a mental health crisis? Despite enjoying more leisure time than ever before, employees are struggling with work stress, leading to burnout and decreased well-being.

Future of the Office

🚗 Commuting is back — but not as we knew it. Contrary to pandemic-era predictions, the daily commute to work has not disappeared entirely — but it has undergone significant changes. According to Financial Times analysis, people are commuting less frequently, for shorter distances, and seeking ways to make their journeys more enjoyable and cost-effective.

👩🏻‍💻 A combination of AI and youth is changing the workforce. Younger generations are embracing flexibility and gig economies, diverging from traditional career paths and challenging the old paradigms of work.

AI & Automation

🦾 Indeed: Employees are optimistic about AI in the workplace, with 89% confident they can adapt to AI in the workplace. The key to surviving the AI apocalypse, experts say,  is clear communication on when and how to use AI tools as well as investing in skills development to bridge the human-machine gap.

📈 AI will create new jobs, says EY exec. While some predict AI will eliminate jobs, EY Americas vice chair Raj Sharma is optimistic. He believes AI will impact 50-60% of jobs in the next few years — but instead of mass unemployment, it will create entirely new types of employment altogether. 

👨🏻‍💻 Are coders' jobs at risk of AI automation? Coders, you can breathe a sigh of relief. AI won't replace you, but it will change how you work. AI tools are already helping programmers write code faster and more efficiently — if a little unpredictable at times.

🧾 TUC publishes AI draft bill to protect workers from 'risks and harms' of tech. Unions in the UK are calling for new laws to safeguard workers from the growing use of AI in the workplace. Their concerns? Machines making decisions about hiring, firing, and performance management.

Productivity Boosters

 Check out this week's top AI tools to supercharge your productivity

	AI Checklist Generator tool streamlines process management by creating customised checklist templates tailored to your industry, ensuring consistency and efficiency in task execution.   Key Features: AI-powered checklist generation Customisable templates for any process Industry-specific pre-made    Pricing Model: Paid with Free Trial
	Claude for Sheets™ seamlessly integrates Anthropic's AI capabilities into Google Sheets, enabling users to leverage powerful language tasks like rewriting, translation, extraction, and more without leaving their spreadsheets.   Key features:  Integration of Claude AI in Google Sheets Facilitates API calls to Anthropic Automatic in-sheet response caching                                                      Pricing Model: Paid
	Thunderbit simplifies task automation with an AI-driven platform that transforms user requirements into custom solutions, boosting productivity and efficiency without the need for coding expertise.   Key Features: AI-driven automation platform Converts tasks into automated actions User describes needs, AI creates tailored solution                                                      Pricing Model: Paid

In case you missed it

Watch OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Brad Lightcap discuss the gradual building of the company from its foundation and the challenges of scaling AI technology in the workplace.

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