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Upskill and upwards: Talent management in the age of Gen AI
Upskill and upwards: Talent management in the age of Gen AI

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Upskill and upwards: Talent management in the age of Gen AI

Sajid Ahmed, Head of Technology, Wells Fargo India and Philippines

The biggest buzz – especially in non-technology circles – around the rapid emergence of generative AI (Gen AI) has been that it will take away most of our jobs.

So here is an interesting piece of data:

Reports project that by 2025, around 85 million jobs could vanish due to technological advancements. On the other hand, an estimated 97 million new roles highly influenced by AI and automation will emerge [World Economic Forum, “ The Future of Jobs ”]

The fear of being rendered obsolete by technology is hardly a new one. Let’s just say that the surge of AI, ML and automation has made it worse. But what about the transformation of our workplaces and unprecedented efficiencies in our processes?

The evolution of these capabilities has created a brand-new workforce – the Gen AI workforce, where humans and machines work side-by-side to foster innovation and improve operational efficiency.

 Leadership for the Gen AI workforce

For tech leaders today, keeping up with the pace of AI has become an important component of their talent management strategies. But they must not lose sight of the following:

  • Human-AI collaboration – The goal should not be to replace humans with AI, but to create a synergistic relationship where humans and machines work together for success.
  • Trust & transparency – Be open and honest about how AI is being used in the workplace and address employee concerns head-on.
  • Continuous learning – Encourage employees to develop new skills and stay up-to-speed.
  • Innovation – Ensure there are enough internal forums, sessions and platforms to foster a culture of innovation.
  • Empowerment – Give employees the autonomy and resources to be successful.

PwC’s 2023 Annual Global survey has thrown up the following as the key factors driving upskilling globally:

  • Increasing job automation
  • Decreasing talent availability
  • Poor resource mobility
  • Less fungibility of skills

This is also borne out by the numbers emerging from online learning platforms, which have seen a significant increase in demands for AI trainings.To bring more focus to the upskilling journey of the workforce, leaders must ensure the following:

  • Redefine – Encourage a growth mindset, embrace change and identify future roles based on organizational needs.
  • Reskill and upskill – Besides core trainings in AI, provide trainings that enhances the business orientation of workforce.
  • Measure success – Incorporate OKR/SLA/KPI (e.g.: number of patents, efficiency, hard savings etc.)

The question of ethics

As AI becomes more powerful, it is important to ensure that it is developed and used responsibly. Consider applying policies, guidelines and workforce trainings to address some of the top ethical concerns, such as:

  • Lack of transparency of AI tools
  • Questions of bias
  • Surveillance practices and privacy issues
  • Responsible development and usage

The UNESCO’s second Global Forum on ethical AI, on the “Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: Changing the Landscape of AI Governance”, took place in Kranj, Slovenia, on February 5 and 6, 2024. This forum brought together the experiences and expertise of countries at different levels of technological and policy development, for a focused exchange to learn from each other, and for a dialogue with the private sector, academia and the wider civil society. The biggest takeaway of this forum was the ground-breaking agreement signed by eight global companies, including Microsoft, Salesforce, Lenovo and Mastercard, to build more ethical AI, and integrate the values and principles of UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI when designing and deploying AI systems.

The path ahead

The competition for GenAI-skilled talent is only going to intensify in the coming years. Organizations need to create attractive work environments, invest in employee development, and offer competitive compensation packages to attract and retain top talent.

A GenAI-enabled workforce is now a key to success in the fast-changing tech world, as Gen AI continues to disrupt, transform and reshape landscapes. The excitement and challenge it offers is far greater than all the fears it sparked in the initial days. As a technologist, Gen AI makes me feel a spring in my step, and I do not get to say this about every new emerging technology or trend.


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