Hello on the last day of 2023. Today we’ll touch upon what we need to better for 2024 and beyond.
Safe to say 2023 has been about AI. Generative technology has introduced great possibilities and also a huge overarching concern that is it going to take all our jobs. Will it?
Let’s go back 20 years to 2002. I was a placement coordinator for my college. One of my key tasks that we had was to bring companies to recruit engineering students graduating that year. We were the batch right after the dot-com crash. Placements were a stark contrast to the previous year where almost anyone got a job offer. The situation is akin to what we are seeing today.
What changed is the process – from math/reasoning to prompt engineering.
Back then, it was common to see people studying mental mathematics to save five extra seconds and cram in all the questions. These skills also helped for entrance examinations such as the GRE, GMAT, and CAT. Countless hours were devoted by students across India begging one question.
How many of these folks consider mental mathematics as a differentiating skill today?
Across my network, these tools have been overshadowed in the long scheme of things. Successful careers were built on other factors such as curiosity, learning ability, persistence, and willingness to take on complex projects. The folks who stayed relevant learned new toolkits but what got them further was their inner desire to get better. This brings us to how we should approach AI.
We have to up our games – with AI as a tool.
We need to get better at learning. Expand our circles of competence. Dive deep. Explain better. Else face a song we won’t like.
Approach AI with optimism with a swad anusar sprinkling of concern.
The tinge of fear will help us innovate and lead us to exciting opportunities. If you are in the mood to read, I highly recommend So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport.
So here’s looking to 2024. I wish you all the very best for the New Year.
See you soon!
Hemang.