The launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 marked a turning point in the perception of human skills and technology. People from various professions began to recognize that certain skills they had developed and specialized in could be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI). An example is a graphic designer specializing in animation who was shocked when viewing images by computer programs such as Midjourney or Stable Diffusion.
The rapid evolution of technology generates anxiety among many professionals, especially in the creative sector. Psychoanalysts like Clare Gustavsson note that technology advances so fast that it is difficult to find references to deal with change. For her part, Meris Powell, a psychotherapist, reports that entertainment professionals fear the use of AI in film and television.
Generative AI is already present in various professions, such as programmers, financial advisers, journalists, and more. Analysts estimate that generative AI could suppress or reduce the activity of up to 300 million jobs. This creates uncertainty for many workers, like Eric, 29, who works at a banking agency and fears that his role will become obsolete in the future.
This technological change also impacts therapists, who fear being hindered by AI. However, some career change specialists help their patients accept the unknown and find ways to use new technologies to their advantage.
Some professionals, like the graphic designer, are looking to develop complementary skills to adapt to the post-AI world. Others, like Shaun Jonas, a graphic artist, see AI as an additional tool that can be added to their unique abilities. Although AI is expected to be able to perform many tasks, some believe that humans will still be able to differentiate themselves by bringing out their unique style and creativity in the future.