What ChatGPT means for the future of work

That big work project you've been putting off all month? There's a not-so-distant future in which you could not only ask a bot to do it for you, but trust that it would be completed to perfection.

It might sound too good to be true, but that tech-driven future is closer than you may think. According to a recent study conducted by tech company IBM, 35% of companies are actively using artificial intelligence in their day-to-day operations and 42% are still exploring AI's potential for the future — one that's set to include virtual assistants that employees can use to complete tasks on their behalf. In fact, AI-powered voice assistants are anticipated to reach eight billion users by the end of 2023. 

"We have a lot of information on the internet, but you normally have to Google it, then read it and then do something with it," says Ricardo Michel Reyes, chief science officer and co-founder of AI company, Erudit. "Now you'll have this resource that can process the whole internet and all of the information it contains for you to answer your question." 

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As far-fetched as it seems, that kind of tech is already in use. In November of 2021, artificial intelligence company OpenAI launched ChatGPT, an interactive chatbot that can fulfill a number of tasks for its user, from typing out a text response for someone to coming up with an entire dissertation on any given subject. Once the command is put in, the chatbot takes mere minutes to complete the task. 

Those capabilities can be and will be applied to the workplaces, according to Reyes, who himself regularly uses AI-powered assistants to respond to his work emails or read long reports and spotlight key points. He's even used it to write computer codes for him so he can copy and paste them when needed. 

"You won't have to train people to do certain things anymore, but rather train them how to use AI tools to do those things," he says. "For example, before managers would have to train people to make PowerPoints. Now, they won't even need them to know how to use PowerPoint, just understand enough to ask the AI the right questions."

Reyes acknowledged that this kind of progress can reduce training time and make workers more efficient and capable. But success depends on how managers handle the integration and whether they prioritize the more human side of technology.  

"AI doesn't have free will," Reyes says. "It still needs someone to tell it what the PowerPoint is about, what goes first, what colors and fonts to use. The problem is that often employers will think that a tool is enough by itself or that they don't need to retrain or retain people. Just as many things can go wrong as things that can be really great. It just depends on the humans and especially the managers — who will need to train people how to use it to be able to profit from it."  

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But even with the possibility that it could prompt job loss, the risks still don't outweigh the positive consequences, according to Reyes. Done correctly, having AI-powered voice assistants could shave time and effort off of previously consuming tasks. It could minimize cost and maximize productivity. It could even open up the door for more hiring if employees don't have to be as specialized. 

The next step for employers is to educate themselves by having  discussions with both experts in the field and their own workforce. In addition, most AI companies have released hundreds of tutorial videos on their products' tools and use cases, which can help organizations understand and communicate the benefit this technology can deliver to every person at a company. 

"Tell them humans will always evolve and find ways to do things faster and better," Reyes says. "You can walk anywhere, but you will get there faster in the car."