IBM CEO Arvind Krishna predicts that artificial intelligence (AI) will first impact white-collar jobs but suggests its role will be more augmentative than displacing. He emphasizes AI's potential in boosting productivity, especially in a shrinking workforce scenario.
White-collar jobs at the frontline of AI revolution
Arvind Krishna, the CEO of IBM, is of the view that the realm of white-collar jobs is on the frontline of the AI revolution. Echoing his sentiments in an exclusive interview with CNBC, Krishna emphasized the efficiency-driven potential of AI in enterprise processes. By harnessing the power of generative AI and large language models, companies could achieve the same levels of productivity with fewer employees, marking a significant shift in the traditional office setup.
The AI landscape is witnessing a burgeoning interest in AI-powered chatbots, primarily driven by the success of models like OpenAI's ChatGPT. This trend has spurred a number of companies to venture into the development of their own large-language models. These models draw from extensive datasets to generate human-like text, offering a more efficient and versatile approach to tasks such as customer service and content creation.
IBM has a long-standing relationship with AI. The tech giant foresaw the potential of AI early on and invested in the development of a supercomputer, Watson, from 2004 to 2011. Watson's ability to process and interpret natural language set a new benchmark in AI capabilities, paving the way for the current wave of AI-driven tech innovations.
Viewing AI as job creator, not job killer
Krishna is optimistic about the role of AI in the future of work. Rather than viewing AI as a threat to job security, Krishna sees it as an augmentation tool, capable of boosting productivity and creating new job opportunities. He envisions a future where AI bots work alongside their human counterparts, enhancing their productivity and potentially driving economic growth.
AI as a cost-effective efficiency booster
Krishna points out the significant cost and efficiency benefits that AI brings to the table. He underscores the transformative potential of AI in enterprise processes, where large-language models can create task-specific models at a fraction of the traditional cost and manpower. This, according to Krishna, is the game-changing potential that AI holds, signaling a new era of commercialization and productivity enhancement.
