1 August 2024
A new report from the AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium has shed light on the sweeping transformations that artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to bring to information and communication technology (ICT) jobs. Spearheaded by Cisco, with contributions from industry heavyweights like Accenture, Google, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and SAP, the report titled “The Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs” offers a detailed analysis of AI’s impact across 47 ICT roles spanning seven job families.
These job families include business and management, cybersecurity, data science, design and user experience, infrastructure and operations, software development, and testing and quality assurance. Each role within these categories was evaluated for its susceptibility to AI-driven changes, with the report providing targeted recommendations for the reskilling and upskilling needed to meet these challenges.
Key findings
One of the most striking revelations is that a staggering 92% of ICT roles examined are expected to undergo either high or moderate transformation due to AI advancements. This highlights the urgency for both current professionals and newcomers in the field to adapt to the evolving landscape.
The report particularly emphasises that entry-level and mid-level ICT professionals will experience the most significant changes, with 40% of mid-level positions and 37% of entry-level positions forecasted to undergo high levels of transformation. As AI continues to redefine job functions, emerging skills such as AI ethics, responsible AI, prompt engineering, and AI literacy are predicted to rise in importance, potentially rendering some traditional skills obsolete.
To prepare for these shifts, the report underscores the importance of foundational skills across ICT roles, including AI literacy, data analytics, and prompt engineering. These competencies are deemed essential for professionals to remain competitive and adaptable in an AI-driven future.
Expert insight
Nicole Helmer, Vice President & Global Head of Development Learning at SAP, remarked on the findings, emphasising the broader implications of AI on ICT roles. “What stands out from this research, beyond the undeniable needs for responsible AI development and broad AI literacy across all ICT jobs, is the necessity for all roles to enhance their higher-order skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, and complex problem-solving,” she said. Helmer added that while the initial adoption of AI is crucial, understanding the second-order effects of these skill shifts will be key to distinguishing between commoditised skills and those that will differentiate professionals in the future.
As AI technologies continue to evolve, the report makes it clear that the ICT workforce must evolve alongside them. The need for targeted reskilling and upskilling is not just an option but a necessity to ensure that professionals can thrive in a rapidly changing technological environment.
