The Future of Work

Worried that AI might leave you sidelined in the job market?

You’re not alone. (Imagine how I feel – I studied software engineering).

But the World Economic Forum has some numbers that might cheer us both up.

The AI-fueled post-capitalism, post-scarcity world where all that’s left for humans to do is just “exist” doesn’t appear to be coming any time soon.

The people who watch the global economy from gleaming offices in Switzerland might be a little removed from your boss walking by your cubicle, but they are one of the top sources for looking over the horizon for the global economy.

And the powers-that-be have a pretty rosy outlook, saying AI is actually going to create far more jobs than it kills – in the next five years, at least.

According to the World Economic Forum’s latest Future of Jobs Report, we’re set to see 170 million new jobs created worldwide between 2025 and 2030 – even as 92 million jobs are displaced. If you’re keeping score, that’s a net gain of 78 million positions.

Why is that significant? Because it underscores that AI isn’t just about automating processes and trimming payrolls – it’s also about unlocking entirely new categories of work. Some roles will vanish, but plenty of fresh opportunities will crop up – especially for those who can adapt.

AI will still be a major disrupter in the future job market. Many high-skill and low-skill jobs are still at risk.

But any job involving a mix of hands-on work and tech-savvy knowhow is probably safe for now.

One of the report’s most interesting insights is that blue-collar jobs are poised for especially rapid growth in the next few years.

Callus-forming jobs like farming are becoming increasingly technical, but they’re probably not going to robots anytime soon.

Those jobs require managing real-world infrastructure, equipment and day-to-day operations — skills that can’t be easily automated. So if you’re good with tools, problem-solving on the fly, or operating heavy machinery, there may be a bright future ahead.

You may have seen the viral video of a robot harvesting rice that made the rounds last year, stoking fears that robots are taking over the most basic human jobs. It was fake. The WEF says robotics and autonomous systems are expected to be the largest net job displacer. But for a lot of reasons – including battery life – you’ll probably see a robot bank teller before a robotic field worker.

But what about tech workers?

Are me and all my developer buddies going to be replaced by ChatGPT, as Johnathan Bi, a fellow of the Cosmos Institute, speculated when he said the following?:

Not yet! At least, not as long as we continue learning and adapting to the new world, according to the World Economic Forum, which declares some of the fastest growing jobs in the white collar field will be big data specialists, AI and machine learning specialists and software and applications developers.

And sure, AI can handle data crunching and repetitive tasks. But it’ll never be human. Soft skills remain in high demand. Adaptability, calm leadership under pressure, and genuine tech know-how (beyond just blaming the Wi-Fi) all stand out as key assets, per the World Economic Forum.

These are the traits that help you steer teams, pivot strategies quickly, and work effectively with advanced tools — qualities that can’t be replicated by a simple algorithm. But routine or repetitive tasks are the first to fall under AI’s spotlight.

Meanwhile, many employers are ramping up efforts to reskill their existing workforce instead of cutting staff. In fact, entire training programs are emerging specifically around AI and related technologies — partly because companies realize it’s often more efficient to train current employees in new tech than to start fresh with unfamiliar hires.

Nearly 60% of the global workforce will need some form of upskilling by 2030 just to stay competitive, according to the report.

Governments are also taking note. In New Jersey, for instance, officials have earmarked $750,000 to expand AI-focused career and technical education. The funding will help vocational schools develop curricula that teach machine learning, automation and other emerging technologies.

In Arizona last year, the Department of Administration conducted a pilot program to study the effects of using Gemini for Google Workspace with the participation of 203 users and nine agencies. And concluded that employees could gain 2.5 hours per week with features like summarization, graphics, visual charts, format, writing code and more.

Last week, Arizona announced a partnership with InnovateUS to provide its workforce free AI training, helping state employees use Generative AI in their day-to-day work. InnovateUS is offering two free courses on responsible AI use: Using Generative AI at Work and Scaling AI in Your Organization.

As AI becomes a regular fixture across industries, everyone – from corporate execs to skilled tradespeople – will need to keep pace with fast-evolving technologies.

So if you’re worried about a robot taking your job, make sure you’re the one programming, servicing, or supervising it.

Nuclear Neighbors?: Arizona Republicans want to build more nuclear reactors to fuel Arizona’s booming data center industry that fuels the AI industry, the Arizona Mirror’s Jerod McDonald-Evoy writes. A bill that would allow power companies to build “small modular nuclear reactors” without the requisite environmental and zoning approvals passed the state House last week. Meanwhile, neighboring Utah is also attempting to become the nuclear AI capital of the Southwest.

AI's Thirst: Artificial intelligence data centers use a lot of water, which is a growing concern for states like Arizona. Shaolei Ren, an expert in machine learning sustainability, tells KJZZ’s Mark Brodie why they use so much water and why “dry cooling” isn’t exactly dry. And while companies are adopting measures like recycled water and energy-efficient practices, the rapid expansion of AI is expected to double or even quadruple data center water consumption in the U.S. by 2028.

AI for the Visually Impaired: An ASU student is exploring how AI can assist people with vision loss, per ASU News. The project uses Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses to let people with visual disabilities ask questions about their surroundings. The smart glasses collect images, and the wearer can speak questions aloud, asking the AI how many steps are in a staircase or to read a street sign.

AI in Biotech: The Arizona Board of Regents awarded $20 million to the University of Arizona for a variety of science research projects, including “enhancing biomedical discovery and health-care outcomes with artificial intelligence and machine learning,” the Arizona Daily Star’s Prerana Sannappanavar reports.

Speaking of losing your job due to technology, here’s a little corporate humor for those of you who know!