Which industries are safe from AI: Smart choices in a smart world

Artificial intelligence and advances in technology mean the world of work is changing constantly. Robots and AI are now able to perform tasks and jobs that were once reserved for human employees, meaning students need to think carefully about what course they choose. After all, there is little point in training in an area that will soon be automated and have no need for a human employee.

Griffith College is dedicated to ensuring not only that our students find the course that’s right for them but that we set up our students with the skills that they need in the workplace. Griffith College Schools Liaison Officer Sinéad O’Callaghan recently spoke of the importance of students taking time to find the course that’s right for them:

“Students should always keep their own personal strengths and interests in mind when evaluating courses; I encourage all students to choose a course that they will enjoy and that plays to their strengths. 

“It’s important to choose an institution that’s also future-focused. Griffith College is recognised for its outstanding lecturers with real industry experience; students receive a high-quality education coupled with learning real-life transferable skills,” she said.

So what industries are safe from AI and should be considered by students looking to find the right course for them? Sinéad says it’s areas such as teaching, human resources and event planning.

“I think the automation of roles is necessary in certain circumstances to eliminate repetitiveness or boredom for people, for example, stacking shelves and proofreading.

However, there are certain jobs that I feel shouldn’t be automated, like teaching, event organising, human resource managing and marketing. Each of these roles require a substantial level of emotional intelligence and a human-centred approach,” she said.

For many businesses across various industries, ensuring they are operating in a more ‘digital-friendly’ way is a priority as noted in Gartner’s recent survey which showed that 49% of CIOs are already changing their business models to accommodate technological advances. If you want to make a smart choice about what field of work you want to go into, we’ve listed some of the ‘AI safe’ industries below.

Human-centred work

Roles that require in-depth relationships with other people will be safe from AI as robots simply aren’t capable of communicating with humans on an emotional level. Such areas include teaching, medicine and social work but also roles within businesses where a relationship with a client is essential such as account managers or sales executives.

Creative work

If a role requires you to be creative and think outside the box then it is likely to be safe from AI for the foreseeable future. While robots are able to carry out tasks, they aren’t able to come up with new ideas or think about why they’re doing it. Creative roles that require you to use your imagination such as marketing or event planning are good options if you want to avoid the possibility of your job being automated in the future.

Skills-led work

Roles that require workers to be flexible with their skills, adapting them to current situations, are unlikely to be automated in the future. Industries that require specific adaptable skills such as architecture, digital media and journalism are all key examples of skills-led roles that are safe from AI.

In a world that’s constantly facing new technological advancements and creations, future-proofing your career is more important than ever. By choosing a course at Griffith College you can rest assured that you’ll be trained in the skills that will make you indispensable to future employers.