The most obvious new roles involve coding and developing AI models or customising them for specific industries. In the UK, the government is actively supporting AI startups, while companies like DeepMind, part of Google’s parent company Alphabet, continue to grow. These roles aren’t limited to AI specialists; there are numerous opportunities for highly skilled coders and developers who can adapt AI models for various purposes, such as customer service or sales.

High-Profile and Unconventional Opportunities

Even companies outside the tech sector are investing in AI. Netflix, for instance, advertised a product manager position for its machine-learning platform, offering compensation between $300,000 and $900,000. Meanwhile, NewsQuest in the UK posted an “AI-powered reporter” role, requiring collaboration with AI to write news articles and offering a more modest salary of £22,000.

These roles are emerging because effectively using AI requires specific skills, like crafting precise prompts and discerning when AI-generated content is misleading or inaccurate. However, these positions might not be long-term. Dr Caitlin Bentley, an AI education lecturer at King’s College London, suggests that as AI improves, roles like “prompting” may become obsolete.

Temporary Jobs Created by AI

Some new jobs are undoubtedly short-lived. AI development often requires humans to perform tasks that the AI isn’t yet capable of handling reliably. For example, Amazon warehouse workers in the UK are tasked with sorting items in a specific way to train AI systems, while workers in countries like India and Costa Rica verify these sorts, potentially training AI to replace them in the future. This situation illustrates how some AI-related roles may only be transitional.

Which Jobs Have Staying Power?

Some experts believe that AI will eventually enhance existing jobs rather than replace them entirely. Alison Gow, a former senior executive at Reach, predicts roles such as “AI editor” could emerge, responsible for overseeing AI-generated content and ensuring its accuracy. She also sees potential for AI to handle repetitive tasks like weather or sports reports and provide services like transcription or translation.

Additionally, Gow suggests that areas like legal and HR might see growth as AI introduces complex challenges in employment and copyright law, necessitating larger teams or external experts to navigate these issues.

Opportunities for Jobs Requiring a Human Touch

There could also be a renewed emphasis on jobs that require interpersonal skills. As some companies move their call centres back to the UK to offer premium customer service, having real human interaction could become a mark of quality, increasing the value of “soft skills” in the workforce.

While AI is set to transform the workplace, it doesn’t necessarily mean those creating the technology will benefit the most. There are numerous new opportunities, some of which may require a more human touch than we might expect.

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