What is the future of jobs?
I’m in my final year of BTech in Artificial Intelligence, and honestly, it’s been an incredible journey. A lot of students from other departments see us as the future and often joke about how we’re taking their jobs with these AI tools we’re building. But it’s not that simple.
I’m really passionate about AI. I love everything about it – the new tools, the advancements, the performances. This has always been my dream, and I’m thrilled to be living it. Being part of the AI era is amazing, but at the same time, the rapid progress we’re seeing over the past couple of years is a bit scary. Jobs are disappearing, and even as someone studying AI, I’m concerned about where this is heading. People don’t realize that just being an AI or Computer Science student doesn’t guarantee success. Let me explain.
Take India, for example. Around 8,000 students from IITs – that’s about 38% across 23 campuses – didn’t get placed this year. For those who don’t know, IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) are the top universities in India, producing some of the brightest minds. It’s rare for IIT students to remain unplaced, so this is a big deal. What’s happening?
The thing is, AI tools are changing everything. A software project that used to need 20 developers now only needs 4 because these tools can handle so much. Companies are hiring fewer people, and they’re looking for those who are already highly skilled and know how to use AI tools to get things done faster.
On top of that, AI tools are making it easier for everyone to become a consumer. Instead of learning how to build these tools, most people are just learning how to use them. That’s fine, but it creates a problem. If everyone—including non-tech folks—can use the same tools, the competition gets intense. Suddenly, everyone’s on the same level, and finding jobs or clients becomes a lot harder.
In my opinion, the key is to focus on building these tools, not just using them. Of course, the reality is different depending on where you are. In Africa, for instance, there’s a huge opportunity for people to make money just by using these tools. If you’re struggling to find a job or you’re a freelancer, this is your moment. Learn how to use these tools, work faster, and sell your products or start your own service-based business. But in places like the US, while you can still make money using these tools, the day is coming when they’ll be so advanced and accessible that everyone will have them. That’s when knowing how to build them will make all the difference. It’s not easy, but it could be worth it.
One reason I’m saying this is because I’ve seen how powerful the latest models are. Honestly, it’s scary. OpenAI’s models, for example, seem like they’re close to reaching AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). Tools like Veo and DeepSeek are already doing things that seemed impossible not long ago. Companies are in a race to achieve AGI, and while I’m excited about the progress, I’m not sure they’re fully considering the impact this is having. Or maybe they are, but they just don’t care right now. I could be wrong, though.
Anyway, these are just my thoughts. AI is here to stay, and it’s reshaping everything. Whether you choose to use it or build it, the decisions we make now will shape our future.