As a software developer who has been working with artificial intelligence (AI) long before the advent of ChatGPT and is training the next generation of professionals on the most modern ways in which they can develop in the IT industry, I will share my personal perspective on AI, discussing both the pros and cons.
AI: Present, not Future
Every day I work with new technologies and see how they change the world at an incredible speed. One of the most discussed and often misunderstood topics in the technological world lately is artificial intelligence. Leaving aside the discussions at the beginning, I have the feeling that quite a few people, including in Bulgaria, imagine artificial intelligence as scenarios from science fiction like “Terminator“ or “I, Robot“ - machines with red glowing eyes that take our jobs and take over the world.
These concerns are understandable and the available sociological surveys on the subject show it. When asked: “Which of the following is closest to your personal feeling”, more than half of the Bulgarians surveyed (54.2%) say that “Artificial intelligence in general is more likely to bring more job losses” than “relief for people in their work” (21.1%). One in five admits to being unfamiliar with the topic.
Whether we like it or not, the invasion of artificial intelligence into our lives has long been no longer the future, but the present, and the choice of whether to prepare for it, accept it, or ignore it is entirely personal. Regardless of the position we choose, it is important to note that:
Artificial intelligence is not an evil robot with its own will. It has no consciousness, does not feel emotions, and does not make plans. In most cases, it is simply a complex tool. At its core, AI is a technological tool trained to recognize patterns in huge amounts of data, learn from them, and help by automating tasks. And soon it will be able to operate with other programs and services. Imagine it as a Swiss Army knife from the future - it has different attachments for different tasks. AI is everywhere around us, even if we don't notice it. You probably use it every day without even thinking about it - it's the silent engine behind many of the services you get through your computers and phones.
AI has long been in social networks to show you content that you find interesting. When your email sorts messages into folders - “Important”, “Ads” or “Spam”, that's also AI. Or when you use Google Translate to help you translate. When you ask personal assistants like Siri, Google Assistant or Alexa for the weather, or want them to play your favorite song, or remind you of an appointment.
AI is also in Netflix, Spotify, in financial institutions, operators and e-commerce stores through chatbots. Artificial intelligence is in hospitals and analyzes medical images (such as X-rays or scanners), in industry, where smart sensors monitor machines 24/7, even in agriculture, where drone and satellite data systems show the picture in the agricultural sector.
Should we fear for our jobs?
This is probably the biggest and most legitimate question. The fact is that a transformation is already underway in the labor market and we can be a little more prepared for it. Some professions and especially individual tasks will change, most likely disappear and new ones will appear.
Whether artificial intelligence acts like a bull in a glass shop in relation to certain economic activities is a matter of perspective, but one thing is clear - the bull is here. It can break and trample. But you can also take it out of the shop and make it work for you. Or you might not even go into the store at all.
But back to the question. AI will certainly take some jobs, but it will also create others – at first glance I think of machine learning specialists, a new generation of engineers, data analysts, AI ethics consultants, “prompt engineers“ (people who know how to “talk” to AI to get the best results).
Right now, artificial intelligence may be expensive for small businesses, but it is becoming cheaper and more accessible, and that is a trend. There is no romance, feelings, or poetry in AI, but in the end we must not forget that it is just a machine programmed to follow commands.
I agree that we don't all need to be programmers. But it is important to develop skills that machines don't have, because AI cannot be as creative, compassionate, and innovative as humans. Critical thinking, complex problem solving, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and creativity will become even stronger competitive advantages in the labor market, despite artificial intelligence. I am convinced that the jobs of teachers, doctors, scientists, psychologists, artists, and other representatives of professions that require imagination, empathy, and critical thinking will not disappear. They will develop and evolve.
Ethics and Responsibility in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence is neither friend, nor enemy, nor savior. It is simply a powerful tool, a mirror of the technological development of the world. It depends on us how we look at it and how we use it. We can safely compare AI to a weapon – we decide whether it will be for defense or offense. This is where our collective efforts to bring AI within ethical and moral boundaries come in.
How is AI changing my work?
Artificial intelligence helps me work much more efficiently. I use it to write code up to 90% faster, which allows me to create complete software solutions, not just automate individual tasks. With AI, I process huge data sets in seconds, which practically makes my traditional Excel work redundant. AI facilitates detailed research and analysis of information in an incomparably more efficient way.
The people I train to use AI understand that the key moment when it becomes a truly useful assistant is when we accept it as such, when we start interacting with it as a partner, and not just as an advanced search engine, because its capabilities are far greater.
What's next?
The development of artificial intelligence follows a clear formula - it integrates where it can transform operational work. The main goal of AI is to provide users with a powerful tool that will make everyday life easier, expand learning opportunities and allow us to develop at a faster pace.
I don't think AI will take my job. What about you?
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*Oleg Petrov is an IT professional and entrepreneur with many years of experience in web development and the founder of the most active WordPress community in Eastern Europe. He creates AI-based solutions for small businesses, participates as a speaker at conferences, and hosts a video podcast about web technologies and digital marketing.