Who of us does not love the technological improvements that appear every now and then, which make our lives so much easier? In recent years, the acceleration associated with the latest technology, and thus also artificial intelligence, not only delight but also causes fear of being replaced by a machine. Initially, it was believed that only jobs involving repetitive activities and those requiring low skills were at risk. However, the technological rush has changed everything. Now not only can basic activities be performed by robots, but also complex work processes in almost every field.

In the era of a constantly changing world, it is worth to pay attention to the acquisition of new, unique and essential skills, which will not be soon replaced by Artificial Intelligence.

In relation to the words of Tiffany Shlain,

“The skills needed to succeed in today’s world and the future are curiosity, creativity, taking initiative, multi-disciplinary thinking and empathy. These skills, interestingly, are the skills specific to human beings that machines and robots cannot do.“

On the basis of a study conducted by Oxford University, the vast majority of respondents fear that they may be left jobless in the future because they may be replaced by specialised machines who will not need breaks or vacations and will not complain about their well-being or bad health. At this point, it is also worth mentioning that innovative machines will, on the one hand, lead to the loss of jobs by millions of people, but on the other hand, will cause the need for new types of jobs and new skills which will be in demand on the future labour market.

As the rules of the labour market are changing, it will be crucial for the employees to be open to new challenges, to learn and to acquire innovative and interesting new skills. Success will be achieved by those who follow the market trends and are ready to constantly improve their education and competencies. Based on what Frank Elevsky had said, which is  “The most important skills to have in life are gained through interpersonal experiences and the liberal arts [..] Human bodies in close proximity to other human bodies stimulate real compassion, empathy, vulnerability and social-emotional intelligence.” Soft skills are becoming more and more important nowadays, which, regardless of individual specialities, concern: the ability to work cooperatively, creativity, communication skills, the ability to work as part of a team and work under time pressure, innovative attitude, speed in action, independence in performing tasks or self-discipline. After acquiring these skills, it will be easy to find a job even in a very different industry from the one you are currently working in. According to the National Academies of Sciences,

“The education system will need to adapt to prepare individuals for the changing labour market. At the same time, recent IT advances offer new and potentially more widely accessible ways to access education.”

Regardless of the branch of industry, employers will need flexible and motivated people in their companies. The change of profession goes hand in hand with the acquisition of relevant knowledge and unique skills in a specific position. First, one should start with the professional literature, courses, training, industry meetings, getting to know the environment and being sure that the path one has taken is the right one. Sometimes it may be necessary to graduate from an additional college, bachelor’s, masters or post-graduate degree. According to the article called The Future of Jobs and Jobs Training,

“More learning systems will migrate online. Some will be self-directed and some offered or required by employers; others will be hybrid online/real-world classes. Workers will be expected to learn continuously.”

The more courses and the more intensive they are, the better they are perceived by future employers. The great advantage of the employees of the future will be the willingness to develop and acquire unique technical skills. It will be necessary to show focus and determination in striving for perfection. It will be difficult for a human being to meet the requirements of the AI, however, it can stand out with skills that for a long time will not be in the reach of artificial intelligence.

It is also worth mentioning that jobs in which human relationships, creativity and emotional intelligence are important will not be endangered, and new technology may even be a serious ally in the course of many professional activities. IT industry should not be particularly concerned as positions such as a Programmer, for example, are in some way connected with what artificial intelligence brings with it, and thus this work can work alongside AI. However, basic programming skills are not enough to excel in this extremely fast-growing labour market. It is necessary to specialise in professional programs or in the handling and creation of a particular code so that with the help of soft skills and creativity one can become an indispensable employee of large global corporations. When it comes to the jobs that are most likely to not be replaced by AI the job as a Software Developer must be mentioned, were not only skills matter but also the passion and creativity. Other jobs which come to mind when considering the one that probably will not be taken by the machines in the nearest future are Graphic Designers, Technical Writers or Lecturer. Everything is about professions related to creativity, strategy, empathy, contact with other people, inventing non-standard solutions and dealing with unexpected problems. AI will not take over these jobs in the near future because it lacks the ability to think outside the box and the emotions or intuition that often guide us, humans in our work.

To sum up, all the information contained above, in the coming years the most important skill will be the ability to adapt to changing rules not only in the labour market but also in contacts with other people and machines. The key to success will be adaptability. And anyone who does not want to be left behind will have to focus on continuous development.