Everyone is talking about LLMs, but is automation a bigger threat than AI when it comes to the widening skills gap? I feel like the technical requirements to manage automated systems are evolving so fast that traditional certifications can't keep up, potentially leaving many workers behind in the next few years.
3 answers
The skills gap is definitely widening because of how quickly RPA and automated workflows are being integrated into standard business processes. AI gets the headlines because it feels "human," but automation is the engine driving the bottom line. To stay relevant, you have to understand the logic behind these workflows. If you can't manage the bot, the bot essentially replaces the need for your manual input. I’ve seen entire departments restructured not because of a smart AI, but because a simple automation script took over the heavy lifting of their daily reports.
While automation is fast, isn't the real danger that AI will eventually automate the process of creating the automation itself, thereby removing the need for human developers entirely?
I believe automation is the bigger hurdle because it’s already here and functioning at scale in almost every major corporation's back-office system today.
Exactly, Susan. The "threat" is really just a call to action for all of us to pivot toward process improvement roles rather than just being process executors.
Kevin, that is a meta-perspective! While "Auto-RPA" is a growing field, we still need humans to define the business logic. The immediate concern remains the displacement of those who refuse to learn how to supervise these automated systems. AI is still too unpredictable for many core business functions compared to standard RPA.