A few months ago, I was stunned by an admission from one of the smartest people I know a brilliant African fintech founder operating at the cutting edge of crypto innovation and advanced AI deployment.
The mans work is truly groundbreaking. Despite his impressive accomplishments, he admitted that high-functioning white-collar professionals like himself are among those most likely to be caught off guard by the widespread adoption of AI in everyday work life.
Apparently, such professionals, despite their expertise are at risk of having their livelihoods eroded by less-skilled or less-experienced individuals who recognise their need to adapt and are open to using AI tools to fill in their expertise gaps. Ironically, it is often their own misplaced pride and prejudice that prevents these high achievers from embracing AIs more accessible benefits and fully leveraging its potential to enhance their entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial pursuits.
These insights align with research by OpenAI and the University of Pennsylvania, which indicates that American white-collar professionals with higher education-levels and annual salaries of up to $80 000 (R1 456 600) a comfortable middle-class income slightly above the national median are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of workforce automation.
A report by Goldman Sachs suggests that around 300 million jobs globally could be affected by generative AI, with white-collar workers being the most at risk. This includes roles such as data entry, administrative support, customer service, and financial analysis. For Africa, where a rapidly-growing youth population is entering the workforce, this presents a dual challenge: the need for job creation in a landscape where AI could potentially replace many traditional roles.
