Preparing for the Future: How IT Professionals Can Adapt to the Rise of AI
The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the landscape of IT professional roles. With technology advancing at a rapid pace, it’s essential for IT professionals to adapt and prepare for the changes that are on the horizon. In a recent article on ZDNet, five business leaders shared their insights on how IT professionals can navigate this transformation effectively.
Developing a good grounding in compute, algorithms, and data is key, according to Nigel Richardson, SVP & CIO Europe at PepsiCo. While AI may take over some aspects of development work, having a broad understanding of various technologies and infrastructure skills will be crucial in the evolving IT landscape. Richardson also emphasizes the importance of learning machine learning and understanding data governance to stay relevant in the field.
Nic Granger, director of corporate and CFO at North Sea Transition Authority, highlights the importance of becoming a generalist rather than focusing on a single skill or language. With technology evolving rapidly, IT professionals need to be adaptable and open to learning new technologies to enhance their career opportunities.
Caroline Carruthers, CEO at consultancy Carruthers and Jackson, sees AI as augmented intelligence rather than artificial intelligence. She believes that IT professionals should focus on honing their human skills and using AI to enhance their capabilities. By approaching technology without fear and utilizing AI to tackle repetitive tasks, IT professionals can focus on solving complex problems and adding more value in their roles.
Craig Donald, CIO at The Football Association (FA), is already exploring the potential impact of AI on IT roles within his organization. By leveraging AI to automate tasks like unit testing, IT professionals can free up time to work on projects that deliver more value to their customers. Donald emphasizes the importance of focusing on value-generating areas and using AI to streamline processes and enhance productivity.
Andy Moore, chief data officer (CDO) at Bentley Motors, highlights the importance of prompt engineering skills in the age of generative AI. As AI tools like Copilot become more prevalent in IT development, IT professionals with strong writing skills and the ability to effectively leverage generative AI will stand out in the industry. Moore stresses the importance of combining human skills with AI technology to drive success and deliver value in the increasingly digital world.
In conclusion, as AI continues to reshape the IT landscape, IT professionals must adapt and evolve to stay ahead of the curve. By developing a broad understanding of technologies, embracing a generalist mindset, honing human skills, focusing on value-generating areas, and mastering prompt engineering, IT professionals can position themselves for success in the age of generative AI.