How to Get AI-Ready at Work

If you’ve been in the same role for a few years, you may have noticed that the skills you’re leveraging on a daily basis look a little different than they did when you first started. You’re not alone in that experience. In fact, since 2015, LinkedIn members have seen the core skills required for their job change by 25%. That evolution is only going to accelerate, with LinkedIn Economic Graph data predicting a total change of up to 65% by 2030. As Ryan Roslansky, CEO of LinkedIn, puts it, “Jobs are changing on you, even if you’re not changing jobs.” And one of the biggest catalysts for this change is artificial intelligence (AI). This doesn’t mean your job is going away, but it might mean that AI is likely to automate some of your day-to-day tasks, and could assist with or improve others. At the same time, tasks that AI can’t replicate — specifically, those anchored in soft skills like creativity, collaboration, and empathy — may become a bigger focus of your work. So, how can you prepare for this shift, improve your career resiliency, and even get ahead of the game when it comes to leveraging AI at work? One of the best steps you can take right now is to familiarize yourself with AI fundamentals. To help you out, Microsoft and LinkedIn have teamed up to create a free “Career Essentials in Generative AI” learning path. Here are some of the skills you’ll develop: 1. Understand the basics of generative AI (GAI) While some types of AI can only classify or identify existing content, generative AI can also generate new content, including text, images, and even product suggestions. By learning how this technology works and how to use it responsibly, you’ll be prepared to start weaving GAI into your workflow. “If the Industrial Revolution created jobs that were robotic for humans, the Generative AI Revolution will be our liberation and freedom from them,” GAI expert Pinar Seyhan Demirdag says in the course “What Is Generative AI?” “Each person will turn into their own creative studio and the barriers between your vision and its manifestation will disappear.” 2. Streamline your work You’ve probably interacted with a chatbot before, but have you ever thought about using one to improve your efficiency at work? In the course “Streamlining Your Work with Microsoft Bing Chat,” instructor Jess Stratton offers practical examples of ways that you can leverage Bing Chat, powered by ChatGPT-4, to work smarter and faster today. “I can get up-to-the-minute answers on any question or dilemma,” Stratton says of the tool, “whether it's planning for a commute, shopping for office supplies, writing customer emails, even getting advice on dealing with coworkers.” 3. Craft strategic prompts To get the most out of AI natural language models (also known as reasoning engines) like Bing Chat, you need to know how to structure an effective prompt. Instructor Ashley Kennedy, Noelle Silver Russell, Global AI Solutions Lead at Accenture, and Brandie Nonnecke, Founding Director of CITRIS Policy Lab and UC Berkeley Research Professor, share advice for becoming a skillful “prompt engineer” in “Generative AI: The Evolution of Thoughtful Online Search.” “There is this incredible skill set that you have to develop to be able to harness these tools,” Nonnecke says, “and it really, really is relying on the development of appropriate prompts. You will get out only as good of a prompt that you put in.” 4. Get familiar with ethical AI considerations As with any new technology, there are some ethical considerations that need to be accounted for when adopting AI at work. Even if you’re not going to be involved with building AI products or putting together your company’s AI policies, it’s helpful to develop an understanding of responsible AI principles before incorporating these tools into your work. “Make an intention in your daily work to become a steward of a human-centered future — one that recognizes the critical moment we're in, where our decisions will shape the future for generations,” says Vilas Dhar, President and Trustee of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, in the course “Ethics in the Age of Generative AI.” “Working together,” Dhar adds, “we can shift a conversation about building ethical AI into one about building an ethical society that's powered by AI, a future that inspires us to be our best human selves. You can take these courses and more by exploring the “Career Essentials in Generative AI” learning path, which will remain unlocked through 2025. Once you’ve developed strong foundations in AI, don’t forget to invest in in-demand soft skills, too. As AI becomes integral to the way we live and work, those human skills are only going to grow more important. “The ones that excel in the future of job markets will be those that strengthen their unique personal emotional skills that no computer can ever mimic,” says Demirdag. “My advice would be to start investing in expanding your consciousness. Start getting to know what makes you unique, and sharpen your interpersonal, emotional, and creative skills.”