Rhonda Scharf - Alexa is Stealing Your Job

The Impact
of Artificial
Intelligence on
YOUR FUTURE

Rhonda Scharf

NEW YORK

LONDONNASHVILLEMELBOURNEVANCOUVER

alexa is stealing your job

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on YOUR FUTURE

2020 Rhonda Scharf

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in New York, New York, by Morgan James Publishing. Morgan James is a trademark of Morgan James, LLC. www.MorganJamesPublishing.com

ISBN 978-1-64279-401-4 paperback

ISBN 978-1-64279-402-1 eBook

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018914471

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Interior Design by:

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This book is dedicated to all the administrative professionals who make my work possible. You inspire me, motivate me, and make me happy!

#ADMINSROCK

I cant begin to think that this book would be possible if I didnt have the help and encouragement of some great people in my life.

Joyce Grant is my editor extraordinaire, and without her, I would still be editing this book (and probably would never finish). She kept me focused, she kept me working at a frantic pace, and she created a final manuscript that I am proud of.

My publisher, Morgan James, has been incredibly easy to work with, very encouraging, and a joy to be associated with. Thank you to Lisa Larter for introducing me to Morgan James.

My husband, Warren, who has been patient and understanding when I am writing instead of enjoying time with him. He has been encouraging and incredibly supportive and is excited to get his hands on the final copy!

My boys, Christopher and Patrick, who never fail to ask how the book has been going and when they get a copy of it. They encourage me to be the best me that I can be.

A long time ago in an office far, far away, the job I had was threatened by new technology: the personal computer. Many people felt that the introduction of computers into the office setting would be a passing phase that would quickly disappear. I was a young office secretary at the time, and personal computers and automated systems were replacing the tasks of the secretary. The role of the traditional secretary was about to change significantly. I could either find a conventional office and manager and work as long as possible, or I could embrace the change and find myself a new career. I took the leap that many of my colleagues were afraid to take. I learned everything I could about operating a computer and how I could use it to save myself time. Then, I embraced it in my life, both personally and professionally.

Looking back, Im glad I didnt let fear prevent me from changing and moving ahead. My career trajectory was suddenly straight up. My salary increased significantly and the respect I had in the office increased exponentially.

Not everyone thought my choice was the right one, and not everyone embraced what was to become the future. Hazel was the receptionist at the head office where I worked in Toronto. Hazel was well past the age of retirement and worked because she loved what she did. She was happy to be the first person anyone met upon arriving at our company.

Hazel wasnt keen on change.

My jump into the digital age saw me entering the world of computers. I seemed to have a natural aptitude for them. I quickly came to understand how they worked, what needed to be done, and how to make others comfortable using them. Before I knew it, I had become the computer trainer for the company. I went across the country teaching people how to use computers, encouraging them to adapt quickly, and helping them when things didnt go according to plan.

It was mandated that all administrative staff attend the training, because they were the first to be getting computers on their desks. Hazel had no choice but to attend my five-day training program. It was clear right from the first moment of the first day that she had no intention of learning how to use a computer. She was negative, she was full of excuses, and she was adamant that she did not need the information I was teaching, because a computer was not going to make her life any better. She was stubborn.

On the second morning of class, Hazel announced that she would not be continuing on with the five-day training program and that she was leaving, even though knew that the training was mandatory. She said she was choosing to retire instead. She informed us all that installing computers in every office was a huge waste of money and that she expected the company would come crawling back to her once they realized the error of their ways.

They did not, of course, and Hazels retirement started that day.

I see the same negativity, the same excuses, and the same stubbornness in many people when we talk about artificial intelligence (AI) in the office. So many people are positive that this is a rogue experiment gone wrong and that, in a matter of time, business and society will realize what a waste of money and resources artificial intelligence is and they will return to the way things used to be.

They are wrong.

Yes, things are going to change, but if youre smart you can embrace this changing time and set yourself up for success and not redundancy. You can maximize this opportunity. You can be successful and not unemployed or unemployable.

Thirty years later, many people are facing the same type of choice I had to confront all those years ago. Artificial intelligence today is like the introduction of the computer 30 years ago. You can embrace it, figure out how it can help you, and potentially find yourself in a much better position than youre in today; or you can be afraid of it, avoid it, and try to deny that artificial intelligence will ever be a major contender for your job.

Yes, things are going to change, but if youre smart you can embrace this changing time and set yourself up for success and not redundancy.

Are you going to dig in your heels like Hazel did and soon find yourself redundant? Or are you going to take this opportunity and run with it and see what amazing things your future has in store for you? The choice will be yours to make.

The World Economic Forum is an independent, not-for-profit organization that engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas, according to their website. The Forums The Future of Jobs Report 2018 notes that AI skills are among the fastest growing skills on LinkedIn. In fact, from 2015 to 2017, there was a 190 per cent increase on LinkedIn of people listing AI skills in their profiles.

The Forum report also notes that AI and similar technologies will be among the most important drivers positively affecting business growth now and in the near future. They warn business leaders that the window of opportunity for proactive management of this change is closing fast and business, government and workers must proactively plan and implement a new vision for the global labor market.