How to future-proof your IT job in the age of AI

Could a robot do your job? Could you help a robot do its job? If you are thinking about your career development and where you’d like to be a year from now, it’s time to ask yourself these questions. IDC estimatesthat 40 percent of digital transformation initiatives in 2019 will use AI services, and by 2021, 75 percent of enterprise applications will use AI. No matter your title – from entry level to CIO – it’s wise to think about how your role and responsibilities may shift as technologies like AI, automation, and robotics evolve and get smarter.

Constant learning is key to staying one step ahead of the robots, says Jim Johnson, senior vice president at Robert Half Technology.

“The tech industry moves quickly, but keeping up – or staying one step ahead – of the latest tech advancements is a good way to future-proof your career prospects,” says Johnson.

Moreover, demonstrate your creativity, innovation, and drive to learn, says Johnson: These qualities, which robots haven’t quite mastered yet, make you an indispensable member of the team.

[ How can IT teams prepare for AI? Read  Artificial intelligence: The king of disruptors. ]

Here are five other ideas for future-proofing your job in the age of AI.

Sammy Migues, principal scientist, Synopsys: “If your job today is doing something algorithmic and reproducible in IT, your role will eventually go away. It’s just a matter of time. Of course, as technology evolves, so will the interactions between humans and automation. This will require new skills. Forward-looking IT professionals need to take a hard look at their place in the IT value stream and give some thought to whether a computer can do their job. Those who didn’t do this in industries such as legal, medical, hospitality, food service, manufacturing, and so on suddenly found themselves displaced and without a plan.