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Working in a technical field is not without its challenges. Setting aside the training required, the complexity of making disparate systems work together and even the sleepless nights troubleshooting a complex problem, there is also the tension of job security.
Similar to those in the medical or legal fields, IT workers need to constantly reeducate themselves and stay up-to-date with advancements and innovations; not doing so is tantamount to asking for your own pink slip.
With artificial intelligence, we now have tools that can lighten the load for developers. Yet, because of new automations and machine learning (ML), there are questions about whether AI is going to replace technical jobs within the IT field or merely become a powerful ally. Recent news about layoffs and budget cuts due to AI do not help alleviate the concern, but there is a silver lining for technical workers who are willing to adapt to the new AI reality.
Table of Contents
- Examples of How AI Is Impacting Jobs
- Will Productivity Gains Lead to Restructured Teams?
- AI Will Augment IT, Not Replace Workers
- AI Can Be a Boon for IT Workers
Examples of How AI Is Impacting Jobs
One recent example of how AI is impacting technical jobs comes from Accenture. The company announced that 11,000 workers will be cut due to AI and its impact on the workplace. Specifically, the company mentioned that workers who are not adapting to the emergence of AI augmentation are the ones being downsized.
Meanwhile, UPS recently announced layoffs of 20,000 workers — 4% of its global workforce — due to increased use of technology. It’s one of the largest layoffs in the history of UPS, which was founded in 1907. Both Microsoft and Amazon have also announced massive layoffs related to AI automation.
Related Article: AI Is Killing Entry-Level Jobs, Stanford Study Finds
Will Productivity Gains Lead to Restructured Teams?
AI is a powerful ally in the enterprise, and there are some tangible benefits for all workers. But sometimes the productivity gains can lead to restructuring entire teams.
One poll of 820 workers across the globe found that:
- 38% of daily GenAI users save 1-5 hours per week
- 37% save 5-10 hours per week
- 9% of users save 11-20 hours per week
- 2% of users save 20+ hours per week
Unsurprisingly, time savings with AI tools increases simultaneously with AI knowledge.
If AI is now saving up to 10 hours of work per week, companies may consider whether they need as many IT workers to run technical operations. If there are five workers in an IT department who are suddenly saving 10 hours of work per week, that alleviates the need for one full-time worker at 40 hours per week. Doing the math could lead to some tough decisions.
Yet while AI is certainly causing consternation among IT workers due to mass layoffs and restructuring, the new reality is that the IT field is shifting — slowly but surely — to become more about AI enablement.
AI Will Augment IT, Not Replace Workers
What we’re seeing is a shift within the IT field where many of the automations and workflows are being enhanced by AI, not replaced. Workers who are skilled at utilizing AI tools likely won’t be impacted by the restructuring and downsizing at larger firms.
A good example of how this works comes from Wells Fargo. IT workers built an automation within Microsoft Teams that made it easier for bankers to find information without asking a colleague for help. With automations, bankers can resolve issues in 30 seconds (compared to 10 minutes). That’s some tangible savings in terms of productivity. It means technical workers are finding ways to save time and expenses using AI tools, making them even more valuable to the company. When an employee learns new AI skills, it becomes a commodity, not a hindrance to job security.
Recent surveys and research projects support this finding. The World Economic Forum released a study that revealed:
- 41% of employers in the US will conduct layoffs related to AI
- 71% of workers will receive AI upskilling in the coming years
- 47% of workers will be moved to different positions within an organization
Additionally, one analysis found that several jobs are at risk of being replaced by AI — customer service workers, bookkeepers, market research analysts. But IT workers were not listed as the top candidates for downsizing.
Related Article: How Are IT Teams Using AI?
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AI Can Be a Boon for IT Workers
AI is here to stay and will continue to enhance how we work, but it doesn't necessarily mean wholesale job replacements.
Despite the potential downsides, it’s important to consider a few benefits for IT workers. There are countless positive reports about ChatGPT, Google's Gemini or Microsoft Copilot changing how we work. The bots are extremely powerful and helpful and can save countless hours during the week.
For those in the IT field, the answer is in shifting to a new paradigm — from supporting end-users directly to supporting the systems they use instead. It also means embracing AI innovations, supporting end-users with AI tools, upskilling as the latest tools become available and, at times, being the guiding voice on which AI tools are not worth deploying.
