Not using AI at work yet? You're already falling behind
The sudden rise of AI in the workplace, and its inevitable impact on every corner of our lives, will go down as one of the most axis-tilting shifts to the way that we work. Now, I'm not being overly dramatic here for no reason, the early advancements in AI are just the start of an exponential curve in front of us.
For years, many people assumed that robots would come for lower paid jobs first, like factory workers or front-of-house staff, before gradually working their way up the wage chain.
But the sudden arrival of generative AI (which can create content like reports and images) and agentic AI (where technology works autonomously on behalf of a user) has shown that no amount of higher education makes you immune from these trends.
Increasing AI adoption can bring on two extreme reactions: fear and excitement. Both are valid responses as we better understand the potential and dangers of this new technology, but whether we like it or not, AI is already being used in most workplaces.
Your colleagues and competitors are drafting emails, reviewing contracts, writing presentations, analysing data and using it to help with every task we used to think only other humans could do.
Use of AI programs, like ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini, can have immediate and immense impact on your day-to-day work.
However, the uptake is pretty uneven. A new Australian survey by Humanova found that mid-sized businesses with 50 to 99 employees are leading the charge when it comes to AI adoption. The report's author, Dr Sean Gallagher, says the reason for this is that just over a third of employees of firms this size are 'power users' who are currently using AI at least daily.
If you're not one of them, there's a real and growing risk that you might become professionally obsolete as those around you transform their roles through AI.
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Sydney Morning Herald
29 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
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Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Prime Minister says he remains hopeful of Russia, Ukraine ceasefire
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The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
Prime Minister says he remains hopeful of Russia, Ukraine ceasefire
'We want to see the sovereignty of Ukraine protected,' he said. 'It is a good thing that President Trump is an advocate for peace; what we want to see is that the sovereignty of Ukraine be protected and that the illegal and immoral invasion conducted by Mr Putin and Russia are not rewarded. 'It's important as well now for international rule of law. It's also important because of the precedent that Russia's invasion sets of a powerful nation invading a much smaller nation and engaging in the brutality - which we have seen at a great cost to the Ukrainian people, but also at a great cost to Russian soldiers who have lost their lives.' Albanese made the comments at a resources, science and technology showcase in Perth on Sunday, which was hosted by Seven West Media ahead of a planned economic roundtable next week. He said Western Australia is at the centre of the federal government's plans to transition to renewable energy, with the showcase is expected to attract about 20,000 people to highlight WA's resources, science, and technology industries. Loading 'We want to see a more productive, a more vibrant, a more dynamic Australian economy,' Albanese said. 'WA is at the centre of that.' Albanese pointed out it was his 36th visit to the state since he became Prime Minister. 'We understand that the jobs and the economic activity that is created here in the west is so important,' he said. 'What we're also seeing with this showcase is the way the industries are being transformed by new technology, by artificial intelligence - but at the front and centre of it all is of course our labour force.' The showcase comes ahead of the federal government's roundtable next week, which will advocates and experts from around the country to discuss ways to raise the country's productivity levels. 'What will happen over the next three days of the forum is that people will put forward ideas; they'll feed into government decision-making. 'There'll be some measures that can be adopted immediately if the government adopts it, and there'll be some that feed into budget processes, but there'll be some about the long-term challenges in the global economy [and] the impact in Australia.' Albanese said he intended to meet with industry leaders - including Seven West Media's chief and WesTrac and Coates Hire owner Kerry Stokes. When asked how he squared supporting the oil and gas industry with the government's net-zero policy, he said he was aiming for a 'sensible' transition. 'That is precisely what industry here and the resources sector here are committing too as well - we're working with industry on that transition because what that means is opportunities for jobs and growth here in Western Australia by contributing to our national economy.'
