News of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere. From ChatGDP to predictions on what jobs may be lost to pioneers of the technology voicing their concerns, it is hardly surprising that people are anxious.
We don’t ‘do’ change very well as a species. Change makes us feel uncertain, and when unsure, we like to make plans to mitigate all possible scenarios, but due to the ‘newness’ and speed of development, that is hard to do with AI. So what can we do to manage the stress created by artificial intelligence? I will answer this question once I give a quick overview of people’s fears about artificial intelligence.
What is AI?
AI stands for artificial intelligence and, as the name suggests, is a technology that performs tasks humans can do. A great example of this is ChatGDP’s ability to write essays for students and correct code for programmers; even Paul McCartney used AI to create a final Beatles track. The tasks are highly complex and usually require the skill and intelligence of a person to perform them, and now they can be done in a fraction of the time by technology.
While helpful and can seem like a Godsend to the student, this advancement can be unsettling if you start to wonder if you will stop being able to meet your mortgage repayments as you lose your job to a machine.
Many highly skilled jobs would make me think about what to study at university could be performed by artificial intelligence.
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My first degree, which most people don’t know as I am a psychologist, was in Finance, and the hoops that people had to jump through post-degree to establish a career in the Finance sector, were enormous. But you were almost sure to secure a financially rewarding career, but that reward is uncertain now in many people’s minds.
I, for one, have been using technology to help me complete tasks that an accountant typically does. Many software packages are available; some can even submit your final year accounts, but I also have a real live accountant for that. But the point is technology has been creeping up, taking over many aspects of jobs, but AI’s sheer scale and speed may be where the fear lies.
For example, there is a sea between where I live and where my accountant lives. This would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Bringing an old shoe box of receipts to your accountant is almost obsolete. I say almost, as I know it still happens! But due to changes in how we work, things have changed.
In my business, there are never any cash transactions. All payments to and from me are online, most of which are automated. I automate all my receipts to go into a program my accountant uses. I don’t need to go into an office and see him physically. Anytime we need to speak, an email, call, or Zoom meeting is all that is required.
Pre covid I had been making online self-help courses and offering online therapy. Both prospective clients and other therapists were unsure of this, but covid forced us all into a situation where we had to do things differently and now online therapy is the norm.
Just now, Alexa shouted at me to do my physio exercises (a reminder I set for every day at 11 am). I have a machine that pops out and kindly vacuums my floors, and I’m sure most of you use tech to help you with everyday tasks, even if that is setting reminders.
But this feels different. Up until now, it all felt very helpful, but with AI, it feels more like getting replaced.
With Artificial Intelligence, the change is rapid, and the future is unknown to many except for the catastrophes we create.
What jobs may be lost to AI?
Before we worry about possible jobs lost to AI, some jobs have already gone. CBS News reported that 4000 jobs were already lost to AI in one month alone.
Goldman Sachs estimated that 300 million jobs could be lost to AI, listing;
- Technology jobs – coders and programmers
- Media jobs – advertising and journalism
- Legal positions
- Market research
- Teachers
- Traders
- Accountants
- Graphic designers
- Customer service
The loss of 300 million jobs is an eye-watering amount, and understandably, it creates anxiety, so what can you do about it?
How to cope with AI Anxiety?
Learning to manage the anxiety that you feel surrounding Artificial Intelligence is no different to the skills employed to handle any anxiety in terms of you can’t change what is happening but you can change how it affects you.
Get the facts to avoid spiralling.
The principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) will help you here. CBT shows you how your thoughts about AI can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety and enables you to cope with this in two main ways.
- Look for errors in your thoughts. Your thoughts make you anxious, but did you ever stop to look at them and check their validity? Probably not, but CBT will encourage you to do this whenever you notice anxiety.
- Looking at your behaviours? There might be things that you are doing or not doing that make you feel more anxious about AI, and if so, CBT will help you change this.
Guided meditation to help you relax or practice mindfulness will also help you manage anxiety.
In addition to employing techniques from the world of therapy, you can also do more practical, non-therapy things.
Learn more about AI. A lot of anxiety comes from fear and feeling uncertain about things. Learning about the beast means you are working on facts and not getting anxious over something that may not be correct.
Whether we like it or not, AI is here and looks like it is here to stay. Remember that you successfully managed many anxiety-provoking events in your life, and AI will be no different. Learn all you can about it to take away whatever fear you have, and throughout my site, I show you how to employ therapy techniques such as CBT, and I recommend you read the following articles to learn how to use CBT for yourself.