Across the span of a few centuries, humans have transitioned through three industrial revolutions. We’re in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and we could be on the cusp of the Fifth. During this time, jobs have developed from humans assisting machines into the new age where machines, and today, AI-powered machines are assisting humans.
Hundreds of job types have fallen by the wayside of progress, and generative AI could be the end of many more. However, AI and wider digitalization are creating new jobs every day.
AI’s Impact on Jobs
Society has all but forgotten about many jobs, from lamp lighters and bowling “pin setters” to switchboard operators and train signalmen. What about lift operators and camera film developers? These latter roles didn’t disappear until the 1970s and 1990s, respectively.
McKinsey estimates that up to 800 million jobs could be displaced by automation and AI by 2030. Another report suggests that 47% of US employment could become automated. Both these reports were published before generative AI, and ChatGPT dominated 2023 and accelerated the development and adoption of AI and, potentially, the impact of AI and automation on human workplace roles.
A May 2023 report by Accenture and shared by the World Economic Forum (WEF) suggests that 40% of all working hours will be impacted by large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. Administrative roles are expected to decline quickly, but newer job roles such as AI and machine learning specialists and researchers, data analysts and scientists, and digital transformation specialists are expected to grow rapidly.
Roles Already Created by AI
AI and machine learning roles have been around for a while as AI steadily became generative AI. AI’s new iteration has created some very specific and rapidly growing jobs:
Prompt Engineer
The prompt engineer role emerged in AI companies in 2021, but in 2023 job postings for prompt engineers appeared in many sectors as companies seek to maximise the potential output of ChatGPT and its competitors.
Output Quality Control
These roles range from mid to senior as companies recognize both the advantages and the risks of generative AI. Game developer Electronic Arts is currently hiring for a Director of AI/ML Quality Verification with a salary in excess of $200,000 CAD per annum.
Cybersecurity
As specific security and data protection risks are associated with AI platforms and models, cybersecurity is getting its own specializations, including AI security architects for both enterprise-level AI users and for AI developers.
Sales and Consultancy
Needless to say, as AI and software companies develop AI-powered products, roles are created to sell these products and for consultants to advise on adoption and transformation.
AI Ethicists
A quick search shows LinkedIn listing over 70 “AI Ethics” jobs, and Indeed boasts over 2,000 roles listing the skill. An AI ethicist can range in seniority and work either in an AI company or in one heavily utilizing AI and wants to do so safely and appropriately. Sony’s Project Lead – AI Ethics role in its dedicated AI Ethics Office says
“Sony established the Sony Group AI Ethics Guidelines in September 2018 to guide all officers and employees to utilize AI and/or conduct AI-related R&D in a manner that fits within emerging social norms.”
New AI Job Roles Emerging
There’s a whole raft of new generative AI job roles predicted to emerge almost immediately, if they haven’t already, and many are indicative of the rapid progress and adoption of the technology. A 2017 Dell and Institute for the Future report predicted that 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 “haven’t been invented yet.”
Human-Machines Teaming Manager
According to Inc.com and Megan O’Connor of Chegg Skills, the human-machines teaming manager is an upgrade from a people manager role. This new role is to ensure “all intelligences work well together, even the artificial ones.”
AI Personality Designer
Siri, Alexa, Cortana, and now Meta’s suite of AI bots all have personality designers. This role is likely to expand as companies build their own AI personas to serve customers and even as individuals create digital twins for the metaverse.
Biotech/Healthcare AI Engineer
The potential of AI in healthcare is extensive, from interpreting images, x-rays, and scans to predicting ailments, diagnosing medical problems, and creating treatment plans. Although AI will need human expert oversight, at least in the short term, its ability to analyze and mitigate healthcare skills shortages cannot be understated. Hence, biotech AI and healthcare AI engineering roles are set to expand exponentially.
Chief Productivity Officer
AI drives efficiencies, but getting the most out of AI and automation does take coordination and expertise. Enter productivity leadership roles responsible for coordinating the efficiencies gained by AI and other transformative technologies.
Human-technology Integration Specialist
Another role suggested by workforce management company Replicon is similar in nature to human-machines teaming and productivity leadership roles. The human-technology specialist, says Charles Grantham, a teacher at the Community Design Institute, “will teach others how to leverage and use the vast array of technologies to improve the quality of their lives.” Similar roles will likely emerge in medium- to large businesses as these organizations develop their employees to become human-in-the-loop.
Accenture’s figure this year that LLMs will impact 40% of human work hours is based on language tasks taking up around 62% of employees’ time. Instead of AI replacing humans, the saved time can be “transformed into more productive activity through augmentation and automation.”
The concept of Human-in-the-loop (HITL) is critical to getting the most out of AI and will rely on the training and upskilling of impacted roles. Humans will oversee AI’s output and spend more time on creativity, innovation, and problem-solving to drive even more efficiency, build new workflows, and develop new solutions and technologies.
For more about the future of AI, try our 2024 Prediction Series Wrap-Up: Our Top 7 AI Predictions for 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
What AI job opportunities are growing for people who are not software engineers?
Non-engineers can benefit from AI-related roles that focus on applying AI to real workflows, not building models from scratch. The source frames a shift from humans assisting machines to machines assisting humans, which points to growing demand for people who can guide adoption, improve processes, and help teams use AI effectively.
How can you explore future AI job opportunities if you are unsure where to start?
Start with your current domain knowledge and map AI to one practical problem in that area. The source emphasizes that AI and digitalization are creating new jobs, so a practical first step is to build experience where you already understand the business context, then expand into broader AI-enabled responsibilities.
Are AI reseller opportunities a realistic career path, or just a side hustle trend?
They can be realistic when positioned as long-term business support instead of one-off setup work. The source describes an ongoing industrial transition and rapid AI adoption, which supports demand for services that help organizations implement and operationalize AI over time.
Will AI replace more jobs than it creates in the next few years?
Both displacement and job creation are already part of the trend. The source cites a McKinsey estimate that up to 800 million jobs could be displaced by 2030, while also stating that AI and digitalization are creating new jobs. A practical takeaway is to prepare for role redesign and changing task mixes rather than a simple yes/no outcome.
Is prompt engineering still a real job title, or now just a skill inside other jobs?
Titles may vary by employer, but the broader trend is clear: generative AI adoption is accelerating, so AI interaction and output-handling skills are becoming valuable across many roles. The source highlights how quickly generative AI changed workplace expectations, which suggests these skills are increasingly embedded beyond a single title.
Do nursing or healthcare AI agent opportunities already exist, and can you build a business around them?
The provided source discusses AI-driven employment shifts at a broad level and does not validate specific healthcare products or business models. What it does support is the broader pattern that AI adoption and digitalization are creating new types of work, which can include sector-specific opportunities as markets mature.