Austria’s digital competitiveness offers enormous growth potential: the county could can increase its added value by 18 per cent if an additional 2.24 billion hours of working time were used productively through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
These findings are presented in a new study by the economic research institute Economica, commissioned by Microsoft Austria and Accenture.
Armed with this knowledge, I attended the ARS Academy’s „Powercouple AI & Working World“ event with mixed feelings. While I was curious about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), I also had doubts about whether I could keep up with the rapid pace of development. Does this sound familiar to you?
In this article, I share my thoughts and impressions on the role of AI in the world of work, considering the opportunities, challenges and ethical questions involved.
From hype to reality
According to Gartner, we are at the peak of the AI hype cycle. Much seems feasible – but we are now entering a phase where we examine what can actually be implemented. This also gives rise to uncertainties such as „Will I be replaced by AI?“ and „What is ethically acceptable?“
At the same time, it has become clear that AI offers enormous opportunities, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Often, small steps can have a big impact. Now is the right time to take action – those who wait will lose momentum.
Disruption as an opportunity
Changes in the world of work are inevitable – particularly as processes become digitised and automated. At the same time, new opportunities are emerging.
For example: an insurer and a car mechanic have jointly developed a system that analyses hail damage and automatically generates reports. This significantly speeds up processes and demonstrates how new approaches can transform entire business models.
AI & data protection – driver of innovation or stumbling block?
Such developments raise questions particularly with regard to data protection and ethics. The EU’s AI Act aims to address these issues. Depending on how it is used, the Act can either promote or hinder innovation.
I believe that those who use the AI Act to weigh up risks and assess opportunities can derive real added value from it. As technology develops faster than the law, a pragmatic approach and focusing on progress is worth taking.
Competence building is the key
In my university lectures I also address how companies and employees can prepare for AI.
According to the AI Act, training courses provide an important foundation – but they are only the beginning of a comprehensive change process.
A genuine change process is needed to get people on board. The basis for this is a clear vision of what is to be achieved with AI. Every learning strategy is built on this. Only then can I consider how to train employees. A good place to start is to support them in learning how to create prompts. This provides a solid foundation on which to build.
Small businesses vs. large corporations
Is AI only relevant for large companies? Quite the contrary. Small businesses often benefit from shorter decision-making processes and fewer regulatory hurdles. Large corporations, on the other hand, have more resources and structured processes at their disposal.
In both cases, good data is essential for any successful AI application.
Return on investment is a challenge
Every AI initiative needs a clear economic perspective.
While there is often talk of efficiency gains of up to 30%, it is often unclear how to achieve them. Improving existing processes does not automatically result in savings.
Real transformation occurs when business models are rethought and new business areas are developed. Sounds ambitious? Perhaps. But making a small start is better than standing still.
AI agents & visions
When it came to AI agents, I initially felt overwhelmed. Developing my own seemed too complex. However, it was shown how easy it can be to get started – either with existing tools or your own developments.
The key factor remains: clear objectives set the direction.
Technology & humanity
Finally, I was particularly moved by the thought that every technology brings change. Why does AI unsettle us? Perhaps because we compare ourselves to it.
But, just as the the calculator once made arithmetic easier for us, AI can complement our thinking, acting as a partner at our side.
Care work and emotional intelligence remain our human advantage.
Even if AI could play instruments or football, we would still love the emotions associated with them. And that’s exactly what makes the difference.
My conclusion
In contrast to the industrial revolution, which mainly affected physical labour, , white-collar jobs are now at the centre of technological upheaval for the first time. In the future, some intellectual tasks will be taken over by AI. This is both unsettling and fascinating.
I already use AI in my everyday work – but not to its full potential. I simply carry out some tasks myself. This may sound unusual, but it’s precisely the the point: what tasks do I want to automate – and which ones do I consciously choose to continue doing myself?
Efficiency meets emotion.
It’s an exciting time and I am looking forward to seeing how the world of work will continues to evolve. One final thought:
„A bad process remains a bad process, even
with AI.“
#FoodForThought
The information in this blog post comes from the ARS Academy: Powercouple AI & Working World event, which provides a good overview of the topics and offers a solid foundation for exploring this subject in more detail.
Many thanks to the speakers:
Eva Eggling, Sophie Martinetz, Christoph Wirl, Lukas Feiler, Waltraud Jelinek-Krickl, Carina Ebli-Korbel, Patrick Brandtner, Stefan Thalmann, Thomas Sengotta, Katharina Bisset, Anna Brunnhofer-Pedemonte, Thorsten Vellmerk, Liz Hirn.
Further information and dates can be found on the website www.ars.at.
If you would like to participate, you can use the code HRPassionista2024 to receive a 10% discount on the seminar fee.
