With the emergence of powerful artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, some workers fear their job is at risk. Job security may lie in embracing new technology and learning to work with it to more efficiently achieve business objectives.
In April, Intelligent.com surveyed 1,593 Americans who are currently employed or a student and found 63% have or will take a ChatGPT course this year.
Additional key findings:
- 10% of Americans have completed a ChatGPT course
- 23% are currently taking a course; 30% plan to take a course in 2023
- 60% of respondents say they know someone who has lost their job to AI
- 57% fear losing their job to AI
- 58% fear losing their job to someone more proficient in ChatGPT
10% of Americans have taken a ChatGPT Course
With AI rapidly advancing, people are becoming more concerned about job security.
Our survey found 10% respondents have already completed a ChatGPT course.
Of those who have taken a course, 80% got a raise, 61% received a promotion, and 61% were offered a new job. In fact, 85% of respondents say they increased their salary by $10,000 or more and 31% by more than $50,000.
Many respondents (23%) say they are currently enrolled in a ChatGPT course, while 30% say they plan to enroll by the end of the year.
Of those who have taken a course or are currently doing so, the plurality (31%) say the course took or will take about 41-50 hours to complete.
The vast majority of respondents (94%) say they paid for the ChatGPT course. The plurality (30%) spent between $501-$1,000 on a course.
“Whether it’s reading short articles and tutorials on ChatGPT online, having a demo of it in a college class, engaging in corporate training that covers this tool, or officially enrolling in some kind of class, many people are actively developing their skills in a variety of AI tools,” says Professor of Strategic Communication at Ithaca College and Principal of Gayeski Analytics Diane Gayeski, Ph.D.
“As ChatGPT and similar tools like DALL.E (for creating images) are merged into other mainstream tools such as Bing, Edge, and Microsoft Word, users will need less formal training,” she continues.
Thomas Costello, CEO of REACHRIGHT, shares five key ways that investing in ChatGPT courses can benefit one’s career:
- Increased marketability: Being proficient in ChatGPT demonstrates a commitment to staying ahead of the curve and embracing new technologies, which can make individuals more attractive to potential employers in various industries.
- Versatility across sectors: ChatGPT has applications in customer service, content creation, marketing, research, and more. By mastering ChatGPT, individuals can diversify their skillset and explore job opportunities across a wide range of sectors.
- Enhanced problem-solving skills: ChatGPT courses often involve working on real-world problems and projects. This hands-on experience can help individuals develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are invaluable in the modern workforce.
- Staying future-proof: As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into everyday life, having a strong foundation in ChatGPT ensures that individuals are well-prepared to adapt to changes in the job market and contribute to the development of cutting-edge technologies.
- Networking opportunities: Participating in ChatGPT courses can provide opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals and industry experts, fostering relationships that can lead to exciting career advancements and collaborations.
4 in 10 Americans are taking ChatGPT courses because they fear losing job to AI
Sixty percent of respondents say they know someone who has had their job replaced by AI.
According to the survey, 57% of respondents are very or somewhat fearful of losing their jobs to AI; 92% say that this fear led them to want to take a ChatGPT course. Additionally, 58% are fearful that they could lose their job to someone more proficient in ChatGPT.
Moreover, 92% of respondents believe that studying ChatGPT will make them more hirable, while 94% believe that it will make them more productive at work.
“As digital tools rapidly advance, many employees and students find it useful to earn online credentials and certifications to both become proficient as well as to demonstrate to employers that they know how to seek out and master new skills,” says Gayeski.
“Many of my faculty colleagues require our students to get certified in a tool such as Microsoft Excel or to take a LinkedIn course covering applications such as photo editing or social media analytics as a part of their courses. I would predict that this trend will now spread to AI tools such as ChatGPT which are becoming required elements of productivity suites in many workplaces,” Gayeski concludes.
David Espindola, founder of Brainyus, a technology and consulting company, says we need to learn to work with AI.
“Americans should take ChatGPT courses and invest time in learning how to collaborate with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to stay competitive in the workforce,” says Espindola.
“AI will bring profound transformations to our work, lives, and society at large. The sooner we embrace this reality, the better we will be prepared to deal with it. One of the potential negative consequences of AI is the displacement of jobs. As AI increases workers’ productivity, those skilled in working with AI will be highly valued as they can perform tasks faster and more efficiently. This will improve their standing with the competition and create opportunities in their careers. Those who fail to learn and collaborate effectively with AI will be left behind.”
Methodology
All data found within this report derives from a survey commissioned by Intelligent.com and conducted online by survey platform Pollfish on April 19, 2023. In total, 1,593 Americans were surveyed using a convenience sampling method.
Appropriate respondents were found through demographic criteria and screening questions. Only 1,000 respondents passed through the two screening questions to take the full survey. The screening questions ensured respondents could correctly identify what ChatGPT is and that they have, currently are, or plan in 2023 to take a ChatGPT course.
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