Artificial intelligence (AI) is, without a doubt, the most "hyped" topic right now. However, more than just a trend or a "wave," experts describe it as a tsunami. This metaphor is justified by how AI is simultaneously impacting every aspect of our lives and businesses with vast reach and unprecedented speed. Unlike the internet or social media in their early days, AI is already "bringing enormous results" to those who apply it daily, proving that it's not just hype—quite the opposite.
The New Workforce: From Repetitive Tasks to Exponential Empowerment
One of the biggest discussions about AI is its impact on the job market. While some predict an apocalyptic scenario of mass unemployment, the more prevalent view among experts is to empower people with artificial intelligence so they can produce more and better. Repetitive, low-complexity jobs like transcription and basic customer service are already becoming obsolete and will likely disappear. On the other hand, for more complex tasks, AI acts as a tool to amplify human capability, requiring professionals to develop themselves more to get better at what they are creating.
The key to using AI effectively for complex tasks lies in the amount of context you provide the machine. For instance, a developer with extensive context in systems will use AI much more powerfully than someone without that knowledge. This is where human expertise becomes crucial: it's not replaced, but rather exponentialized by AI.
Navigating the "J-Curve": The Early Pains and Future Gains
The transition to an AI-driven world is seen as a "J-curve": the initial movements we are witnessing are the worst, with news of jobs becoming obsolete and layoffs, especially in areas like call centers. Pioneering companies are already significantly reducing teams, reassigning or letting go of personnel. However, the expectation is that this difficult initial phase will give way to long-term exponential growth, with the emergence of new occupations and a substantial addition of wealth to humanity.
In this scenario, there's a divide between optimists and pessimists. Optimists believe that AI will take half of our work in 5 years, but in the sense that we will achieve the same efficiency in half the time, freeing us for other activities. They see AI as a "blessing" that came to give us back our humanity, allowing us to focus on abstraction, critical thinking, and human interactions like empathy. In contrast, pessimists foresee idleness and depression.
The Mindset Shift: From Crutches to Ladders
For entrepreneurs, the message is clear: AI should be used as a ladder, not a crutch. The biggest problem for humans today, according to experts, is not AI, it's the will to adapt and learn. It's essential to stay updated, have a broad repertoire of knowledge, and the humility to be an active listener. The democratization of AI is an irreversible fact, making it accessible to everyone, and what will replace humans is inertia in the face of AI, not the technology itself.
The current era demands a "cognitive migration" and an entrepreneurial revolution. Small businesses and startups have a huge advantage, as lightness is the new strength, allowing them to improvise, change, and adapt much faster than large corporations. It's crucial to think big, as AI and recent technology have eliminated physical and financial barriers, leaving only the mental barrier.
Looking to 2030 and Beyond: Curiosity is Key
Looking ahead to 2030, the expectation is a world that is essentially similar in form but different in essence. Society will be more equalized, and the main division will be between the "curious and the incurious." There's a possibility that we may soon no longer be the most intelligent species on the planet, with intelligence becoming a commodity. We will also see the return of the metaverse and the growing popularization of robotics.
The final message is one of action and adaptability. It's crucial to study and test AI, always looking to make artificial intelligence tangible in your daily life by solving small problems. For companies, it's essential to adopt an "AI first" mindset and embed AI into every layer of the business, from strategic decisions to execution. Above all, don't let the uncertainties of the future cause you anxiety; instead, enjoy life, love people, and study, because AI is here to propel us forward, not to stop us.