Every technological evolution has led to job changes and rendered some roles obsolete. As more generative AI tools are developed and layered into existing software packages and technology platforms, businesses across the entire economy will benefit from streamlined workflows and automated routine tasks and give rise to a new generation of business applications. These business opportunities, however, will require a new breed of professionals.
Taking a deeper look
At the start of the millennium, the internet transformed business infrastructure and forced companies, regardless of size, to adapt and improve their products and processes. Those that preserved the status quo faced many challenges and ultimately failed. These failures highlight the critical need for companies to embrace change and adapt to technological advancements and evolving consumer demands.
Just as the internet provided broader access to information, markets, and services, it became known as the “great equalizer.” Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to be the next transformative wave, but its impact will center on a different dynamic, the “human-AI partnership.” Businesses that invest in training their staff to be “AI-powered” to augment human intelligence and creativity will have a distinct competitive advantage.
Both the internet and AI are general-purpose technologies that affect an entire economy, dramatically disrupt business models, and create new competitive landscapes. Having said that, the core of the shift is different:
- The internet was about democratizing access to information and markets.
- AI is about democratizing intelligence and enhancing human capabilities.
Ultimately, businesses that succeed in the AI era will be those that effectively manage the symbiotic relationship between people and AI to drive profits, not those that see AI simply as a way to cut costs. Companies that succeed at integrating AI into their workflows will see significant gains in productivity and sales growth. As with the internet, those that fail to see the magnitude AI can have in the future of their enterprise are increasing their chances of becoming obsolete.
AI is accelerating innovation by shortening product development cycles and possibly helping create entirely new products and services. Software engineers will be instrumental in incorporating generative AI into business systems and establishing a secured, unified back end for data access. Thus, significantly speeding up and sharpening the strategic decision-making processes.
Regardless of the role of humans within the context of AI, as generative AI becomes increasingly proficient at problem solving, human workers will have to get better at discovering problems. This means new diverse skills will be needed, including an understanding of human and audience engagement, process design, and model optimization, as well as intellectual and emotional research crucial for creating systems that can provide more personalized and empathetic support in various applications. 1
Why it matters
New levels of innovation will arise. Inter-company silos will fade away. Over time, AI will change how we work by acting behind the scenes to pull together processes, systems, and pools of knowledge. AI will provide a unified access point for customers and employees alike. The enterprise focus will be on real-time collaboration as AI agents connect many of the tasks previously done by business functions like marketing, legal, procurement, operations, R&D, and sales. Thereby causing productivity gains to increase, not just by doing the same things faster. 3
Soon, there will be new career categories that require creativity, innovative, and problem-solving skills. The need for qualified professionals who will be in charge of creating, deploying, and managing AI systems will also increase. These professionals will include enterprise architects, data scientists, machine learning engineers, programmers, and AI specialists. These jobs will be highly technical and require a strong understanding of data analysis, programming languages, and AI methods. 2
Humans need jobs. And companies need humans to handle ethical, social, and psychological aspects of AI implementation. It’s crucial to understand the potential issues that come with this new technology, and businesses must be ready to invest time and effort to minimize their exposure to any generative AI risks. Roles such as AI ethicists and human-AI interaction specialists will become standard, ensuring that AI systems are created and utilized ethically. 4
Skilled experts will be essential for unlocking the full potential of AI applications. Businesses will have a competitive edge if they place a high priority on retaining employees that can innovate and smoothly incorporate AI technologies into routine tasks. The final touches will be applied by human workers, who will guide AI toward more meaningful and individualized results. The combination of AI and human creativity will catapult innovation.
AI will only likely replace employees who haven’t adapted. While those who have sharpened their skills, will become more proficient with the advancing technology.
List of sources
1 Cognizant. “The Future of Jobs Report 2025.” 2025, https://www.cognizant.com/us/en/generative-ai-future-of-work
2 Science News Today. “The Next Frontier: How AI Will Shape the Future of Work.” March 30, 2025, https://www.sciencenewstoday.org/the-next-frontier-how-ai-will-shape-the-future-of-work
3 Cognizant. “How gen AI will change business as we know it.” September 08, 2023, https://www.cognizant.com/us/en/insights/insights-blog/how-gen-ai-will-change-business-as-we-know-it-wf2050951
4 Science News Today. “The Next Frontier: How AI Will Shape the Future of Work.” March 30, 2025, https://www.sciencenewstoday.org/the-next-frontier-how-ai-will-shape-the-future-of-work