Not Using AI? You Might Make 40% Less At Work!

How deep is your knowledge of generative AI?

New data is showing that if you are behind on it, you will be making significantly less money than those who do.

A recent report by Amazon's AWS showed that recent salary trends show the growing power of knowing AI. And this does not only apply to jobs in IT or other technical fields. This applies to workers in finance, marketing, business operations, legal, and even human resources.

Essentially, if you don't brush up on your AI, you might be making a lot less than your otherwise equal counterpart who does.

Amazon on AI: Know Less, Make Less

According to Amazon, those with AI skills will make significantly more money in their respective jobs. For example, those in:

• IT will make 47% more

• Sales and marketing 43% more

• Finance 42% more

• Business operations 41% more

• Legal, regulatory, and related 37% more

• Human Resources 35% more

These projections are even appearing in current job listings, as companies and organizations are realizing the immense value that generative AI brings to businesses.

Generative AI encompasses a broad range of tools and apps. ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Claude are some of the best-known examples. These tools can help workers streamline workflows, eliminate tedious, redundant tasks, and reduce the amount of time it takes to get jobs done. What's more, these tools can be used to enrich work and improve its quality.

The Larger Trend: AI Taking Over

This report merely confirms what many of us working in AI already know. A sea change is going on right now, and AI-based tools are becoming more necessary. Currently, the number of people using them continues to be very low.

While many have speculated that AI will replace many jobs, adoption of generative AI technologies is still relatively low. This means there is still a massive window of opportunity for those wanting to get ahead.

Previously, we discussed how the AI revolution will happen exponentially faster than previous tech advances. This means that any open windows might quickly close. A point will arrive where those with knowledge find themselves well-situated, and those lacking it might be frozen out. Many workers who don't beef up their AI knowledge might get left in the dust.

So, What Should You Be Doing?

One thing is clear about the rise of AI: no industry or sector will be untouched. This means that, whether you're in education, business, a nonprofit, or an entrepreneur, there are opportunities that you need to capitalize on ASAP.

Here are some basic steps you should be taking to get up to speed and ensure that you are not going to be on the losing end of AI's rapid spread:

1. Get Familiar: Now is the time to start getting familiar with AI. There are a multitude of free apps or at least free versions. ChatGPT, Perplexity, Poe, and Bard are just a few of them. Try them out. See if they can help you, for example, generate social media posts, summarize (non-confidential) documents and websites, or give you ideas for organizing emails, memos, and more.
   
   One of my favorite ways to use GPTs is as idea generators. No matter what you need to write or in what context, they are valuable tools for breaking writer's block and providing inspiration. Remember, they function using natural language. You don't need to be a programmer, just start typing and experimenting.

2. Invest in Productivity Apps: Do you spend all day preparing a PowerPoint? Try SlidesAI. Do you get stressed out trying to make memos after meetings? Try Otter.ai. There's a multitude of apps for virtually every task. They might not be free, but most apps I have pay for themselves after just a few minutes of use!

3. Educate Yourself: At this point, there are a host of educational opportunities related to AI. For example, Coursera has a number of free AI-related courses. Google offers a free generative AI microlearning course. Then, there are more advanced free courses that focus on technical skills. Take advantage of these resources to get ahead when it comes to AI!

4. Find Industry-Specific Apps: Research what AI apps there are in your sector or industry. Even if they are in their early stages, you might get some ideas of how AI might impact your work. It will also give you a significant advantage if you are up-to-date on the latest in your field.

5. Use Caution: One thing you need to remember is that you have to take precautions when it comes to sensitive or protected data. Don't use commercial AI platforms when handling any private information, especially if related to your customers. It's one thing to ask ChatGPT to revise your resume, but it's another to do things with confidential data that isn't yours.

Stay tuned because this week, there is a ton of news and insights awaiting! Have a great Sunday!

Joaquin

intelligist.ai