In a world increasingly dominated by technology and artificial intelligence (AI), there is a growing need for individuals with strong language and creative thinking skills, particularly those with backgrounds in liberal arts. According to Matt Candy, global managing partner in generative AI at IBM, the jobs of the future will be filled by individuals who can effectively work with AI using the language and creative thinking skills nurtured in liberal arts degrees.
Candy suggests that as AI evolves to “learn our language,” there will be a greater demand for individuals who fundamentally understand language and can apply it to AI-related tasks. This includes roles such as prompt engineers, who feed large language models like ChatGPT and Bard with prompts, questions, and information to train the AI in human behavior and thinking. These jobs can command high salaries and typically don’t require IT skills.
Alongside the need for language skills, Candy also predicts a growing demand for creative thinkers and graduates of liberal arts courses in the tech industry. He believes that as AI frees up more capacity for creative thought processes, skills such as questioning, creativity, and innovation will become increasingly important. Candy suggests that individuals will be able to take on roles traditionally reserved for those with technical backgrounds, such as graphic design, without needing specific technical qualifications.
However, Candy also acknowledges that there will still be a place for computer scientists in the evolving tech industry, as industries across various sectors continue to digitize and implement AI systems. He states that “the world is being rewritten in code,” and computer scientists will play a crucial role in developing and maintaining these systems. Nevertheless, Candy believes that creative thinkers will hold an advantage once these systems are in place.
The rise of AI has caused anxiety among workers who fear that their jobs may be replaced by automation. While Candy doesn’t see AI as a direct replacement for jobs, he does suggest that individuals who can’t adapt to and work with AI may be replaced by those who can.