The day after AI: Who will train our next generation?
AI is already redefining tomorrow's workforce.
AI promises to massively increase our productivity today. But what of the next generation? Who will train them?
This UnfilteredFriday, let's talk about the far-reaching consequences of widespread AI use - one which most of us haven't gotten around to thinking about.
Better and faster
AI promises to help us do things faster and better. I'm not referring to the dull output or AI word sludge that we often get by default.
Experts in various fields who know what they are doing can achieve substantially more with AI:
- Marketers.
- Writers.
- Coders.
It works because skilled practitioners know the exact output they want, have the ability to fix what's off, and can guide AI like the tireless intern it is.
By using it judiciously, I've been able to shave hours off writing and produce much better content. I've also heard of senior software engineers doubling their output with AI.
Read:
Who will train the next generation?
Therein lies the problem. If the experts can vastly amplify their output with AI, then do they really need as many juniors?
Put it another way: Would I recommend my children to take up academic studies to do the below roles?
- Programming.
- Illustration.
- Writing.
I'm not so sure.
I've been trying to put it into words for a while and what Darwin Gosal wrote last month on Medium immediately resonated with me.
I felt the title of his piece perfectly framed the issue: "Who Will Train the Next Generation? The Quiet Crisis of the AI Revolution."
I'll encourage you to read it yourself, including Darwin's suggestion for new strategies to train the next generation of professionals here.
A looming crisis
Personally, I think we have a looming crisis. Because tomorrow's seniors are today's juniors in the form of fresh graduates and interns.
Without the opportunity to cut their teeth today, the experienced professionals we need for tomorrow won't exist in another 5-10 years' time.
Or as I wrote in my weekly newsletter last Sunday:
"While senior developers will no doubt benefit greatly from AI, what happens to junior developers? And if there’s little or no room for them in the workforce, where will the next generation of senior developers come from?"
What do you think? Is there anything we can do today?
