Getting Real
It's time for some honest disussion
Guys, let’s face it.
This AI thing is getting real, and there is a whole lot happening all at once.
There have been thousands of layoffs this year alone. And we are still in March. We have nine good months to go.
Just last week, Atlassian, a popular Australian tech company, laid off 1,600 employees. Honestly, I hear about lots of layoffs in US-based companies, but hardly ever in Australian companies. Or maybe there have been a whole lot of layoffs in Australia, and I just didn’t hear about it.
With the recent wave of layoffs, I wonder how many more will follow.
To be honest, no one is safe anymore. Not even those who consider themselves senior professionals in their fields. AI has disrupted nearly every industry, and 9–5 workers are no longer safe.
I was chatting with a friend who told me their team was affected by layoffs due to AI. Just recently, a family member’s role was eliminated. I think it has to do with AI.
If you are still one of those seniors who keep bashing AI, claiming it’s not that good and it will never replace humans, then you need to wake up from your slumber.
Yep, that’s right. Wake up. The fact is that you are not better than AI. AI is clever, quick, and robust. Most humans cannot match it. Not even Elon’s brains.
Obviously, there’s no need to panic, but you need to take steps fast.
Here’s what I recommend for a start:
1/ Embrace It
AI is here to stay.
We cannot deny the fact that it’s here to stay.
Companies are building teams around it in every sector you can imagine. The best thing you can do right now is embrace it.
Accept that it’s here, and there is really nothing more you can do about it.
2/ Upskill
You need to upskill in AI.
This is not a time to keep shying away from the fact that AI can replace you.
You need to get comfortable with basic AI tools and actually adopt them in your work.
I won’t lie: this AI thing is really good. It has significantly improved my productivity, and I see so much value in them that I even pay for some of these AI tools.
Stop running away from the future. Visit it now, or you may regret it later.
Speaking of AI, if you are interested in using AI to build stuff and get customers, then Jason has got something for you. If you can learn how to build with AI, you can use the same skills to elevate your career. Highly recommend.
3/ Be Aware
I’m just going to add this here because it’s not enough to keep going to work and expect things to be the same.
Things are changing fast. We are in a new era of work, with AI rapidly being deployed in organisations.
Be aware of what’s going on around you as you embrace the change and upskill. Know when to jump if layoffs start happening around you. Don’t pretend it may not happen. Start networking and applying out there.
The best time to look for your next opportunity is when you have a job, not when you get laid off.
Closing Thoughts
Look, AI is here to stay, and there is really not much you can do about it.
Don’t be one of those coders who keep insisting that AI cannot write good code or clean code.
It’s a big fat lie - AI does a better job most of the time.
AI is here to stay, and the best you can do is embrace it, upskill in AI, and be aware of what’s going on around you at work.
Stay safe.
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Banji Alo
Appreciate it, Banji!