Four in ten companies say AI likely to replace employees next year

The explosion of Artificial Intelligence in the last couple years has brought with it both good and bad things. For plenty of people, it has made life somewhat easier, and mundane work tasks more tolerable. But on the flip side, it has also brought with it lazy ways out for students, and created a rapidly expanding technology we have no clue how to contain.

Congress has done all they can to put a lid on it, but it continues its march toward take over. Rumors have swirled for some time about AI replacing many people int he workforce, and that is becoming reality. Around 44-percent of companies say the technology is likely to replace employees next year. Among those who currently use AI, 37-percent say they have already laid off workers because of AI.

Workforce culture expert Joshua Evans says though not everything with this is doom and gloom.

"A lot of people are losing sight of the fact that a lot of jobs will be created because of AI. Contrary to science-fiction, AI is not here to take our jobs and destroy the world...but it is an invaluable tool that will be used by every industry," he says.

But what positions could possibly result from lost jobs?

"A whole new market will emerge for those who know how to use AI, to make organizations more productive and effective," he says.

Most jobs that AI has taken thus far, or will in the near future, have been customer support related. Eventually, though, as with any technology, the shine is going to dim.

"The novelty is going to wear off, and people will still desire to have human made media and ideas," he says.

But the fear factor is still thick, and according to Evans, that is due to the cloud of uncertainty.

"A lot of people are in shock, realizing how quickly this was beset upon us...I am curious to see when the first full Turing Test is passed, and what that means for society as a whole" he says. "Because the second we cannot tell it is AI, then it becomes a whole other conversation."

There are already growing issues with deep fakes, and people not being able to tell the difference between an AI-generated image or video.

Talks of that have slid into media as a whole too, with thoughts of an AI-generated person reading you your news. That time is not far off, either.

"I still believe we are not quite there...there is still a gap. But I do think we are closing in on it," Evans says.

It is worth noting though, of those 44-percent of companies that have said they will likely begin replacing employees, almost all said they plan to hire candidates that have AI skills.