Artificial intelligence is only two or three years away from replacing most human jobs.<\/p>\n
Ben Goertzel, the father of AGI (artificial general intelligence), told Forbes that there is a fully independent human-level AI, which he believes is only 2-3 years away, “the vast majority of human jobs become obsolete”.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrompt engineering was the most important thing two years ago\u2014but not now,\u201d Goertzel said.<\/p>\n
However, he noted that this won’t happen overnight \u2014 once an \u201cAGI breakthrough\u201d occurs, there will be a transitional period before it fully rolls out and is adopted at scale, the AI pioneer and computer scientist said.<\/p>\n
He added that it would be very similar to how AI became mainstream over the years \u2014 with Gen AI<\/a> in 2022, it took a little while for organisations to fully adopt and implement it.<\/p>\n Also Read | AI pioneer Yann LeCun rejects Anthropic\u2019s 50 percent job loss prediction<\/a>Which jobs are safe?<\/p>\n Ben Goertzel said a few roles, like educators and teachers, will remain intact \u2013 unaffected by the AGI because a human touch remains critical.<\/p>\n AI-proof skills for a better professional future<\/p>\n Ben Goertzel said that with the rise in AI-adoption<\/a>, skills are changing rapidly \u2014 “No one can accurately predict which jobs will go first. Like, the fact that lawyers and graphic artists are going obsolete before plumbers or electricians or research mathematicians,” he told Forbes.<\/p>\n But there are at least three skills, which Goertzel said the workers will need, ahead of the \u201ctransitionary period\u201d, to enable them to be fully useful and remain relevant in the future of work:<\/p>\n Also Read | What is Claude Code design? Anthropic’s new AI tool that led to selloff<\/a>1. Strong Human Relationship-Building<\/p>\n Goertzel said that once super intelligence does come, assuming it comes out beneficially for our species, \u201cwhat we\u2019re left with is ourselves, our own minds and bodies and our, our friends and family and our human relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n He reiterated that teaching occupations will outlast the AI era even at the advanced stage of AGI and ASI.<\/p>\n The ability to have access to a human connection or decision-maker is most critical in the AI era, he said. In that case, Goertzel said it is best to focus on building skills like:<\/p>\n Emotional intelligenceRapport-buildingCommunication skills (at all levels)Active listening2. Ability To Pivot<\/p>\n You need to be \u201cable to pivot rapidly and tap dance really fast,\u201d Goertzel told Forbes. Adaptability and agility are among the top skills required by employers today, according to Coursera and the World Economic Forum<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n Learning new skills every monthInvest in an upskilling course, or study for free, at least once a yearStay abreast of industry news and critically reflect on how that might impact your work and organisation<\/p>\n It is important to change and adjust to remain in touch with reality and be relevant, to be prepared for what\u2019s in store for you next.<\/p>\n The father of AGI noted that people who work in roles that can be performed by a computer smarter than you, you must be willing and ready to switch over to a career where human touch and connection remain critical.<\/p>\n