How Web3 And AI Will Find You Your Next Job

Developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) over the last year have shifted public perception of how this technology could impact the future of traditionally human-held jobs. Given the meteoric rise of new and powerful AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney, many have expressed concerns surrounding the future of careers in writing, digital art, and many other fields.

Some of these fears may be merited, but there are a lot of nuances that many are not taking into account. One of these is how AI can create entirely new jobs that have never existed before, as is the case with the emergence of new tech industries. Freeing up humans from more remedial labor roles creates positions that weren’t possible before.

Lisa Caswell, a Partner with Spencer Stuart, commented, “AI isn’t just a tool, it’s a rung on the ladder to the executive suite, embrace it’s power, understand how to embrace it’s power for your company, and watch as it enhances your skills, sharpens your decision making and accelerates your journey to roles you aspire to land.”

Additionally, there is the fact that alongside AI, we are seeing the rise of decentralized computing, or Web3, services. This field stands to work alongside machine learning to truly revolutionize everything from the type of work people will be doing and how they will find these positions to how contracts are enforced and employees are compensated.

Why AI Has Employees Scared

Even though AI has been around for decades, it seems like — in the blink of an eye — it has become powerful enough that the idea of it challenging human proficiency is no longer in the realm of SciFi. This has led to serious discussions surrounding what this may mean for the jobs market in the next decade.

If the newest AI tools can automate so many things, then what happens to millions of people who currently make their living by doing these tasks? It has already been estimated that as many as 300 million jobs worldwide could be impacted by the continued development of AI, with some of the most affected industries being software development, data analysis, content creation, teaching, and graphic design.

Even jobs outside the realm of technology and computers are at risk. For example, McDonald’s has not only rolled out an automated drive-thru ordering system with mixed results but is also committed to applying the latest machine-learning techniques to improve efficiency and customer experience. Other fast food chains, like Sonic, Wendy’s, and others, are also experimenting with implementing the latest AI services to drive efficiency and streamline operations.

There’s no shortage of professionals raising concerns about what this could mean for the job market. However, there are many reasons to be optimistic about what AI can do to unlock new forms of work in the future.

The Upside Of AI

While AI is undoubtedly in a position to compete for some forms of work, it also stands to create entirely new types of employment. Historical data has shown that new technology creates more jobs than it destroys. Take, for example, the banking sector. While automation has eliminated some roles previously done by humans, we also saw a 20-fold rise in accounting positions between the years of 1871 and 2011. This is just one sector, but it highlights how the major difference comes from a shift in where jobs are actually available, not how many there are. In theory, new abilities and automation allow the public to expand into other areas now that more basic needs of society are met.

Something similar is already taking shape within the AI revolution. While some jobs will be made obsolete, the field is opening up new areas for employment that have never existed before. For starters, there are jobs directly related to the ongoing use of machine learning. Earlier this year, it was reported that tech firms are offering six-figure salaries for “prompt engineers,” people who write questions and text for AI chatbots. That’s just one example of a career that, only a few years ago, was little more than a gleam in an AI scientist’s eye. Even better, many prompt engineering jobs don’t require a STEM degree.

There’s much to be said about how AI will augment existing jobs and industries. One good microcosm is the field of medicine. AI can gather data and create diagnoses faster than any human, opening the door to high-level positions such as a “Health Data Analyst,” who can take the information from AI and apply their human nuance to create even more personal and precise conclusions.

The idea of humans leveraging AI as a tool, rather than seeing it as a threat to job security, can be applied to agriculture, teaching, science, engineering, and much more. In these complex fields, machine learning is an assistant, not a replacement. It’s important to remember that there is still a pretty wide divide (albeit diminishing) between what AI is capable of and what real people can do. As certain lower-level, mundane tasks are routed via AI, newer and more human-centric jobs and responsibilities requiring creativity and authenticity will proliferate.

Tatyana Kanzaveli, CEO and founder of Open Health Network, is optimistic about the use of AI in upleveling jobs like Healthcare. She commented, “AI stands alongside healthcare professionals, multiplying their expertise, and illuminating the path to better patient care. For example, in X-rays, AI enables medical professionals to be more effective by enhancing accuracy, reducing diagnostic time, and ultimately saving more lives.”

Other new technologies, like Web3, are further augmenting the jobs market in a way that stands to benefit workers.

Web3 IDs: The Secret Ingredient

What makes the rise of AI so potentially powerful is the fact that the AI revolution isn’t happening in a bubble. It’s coinciding with another major paradigm shift — Web3 and decentralized services. The rise of blockchain technology has made it possible to offer a new array of cryptographically enforced assets and services online, but what job seekers stand to benefit the most from is the possibility of Web3-based identities.

From the book, “The Tiger and the Rabbit: Harnessing the Power of the Metaverse, WEB3, and AI for Business Success”, I researched the convergence of Web3 IDs and AI. Web3 IDs are effectively wallets that, in addition to storing digital assets, anyone can use as a repository for credentials, personal info, history, and much more. At first glance, this may sound like a huge security risk, but it’s actually much safer than the current Web2 model. In Web2, personal information is stored on third-party centralized servers that are susceptible to being compromised. With Web3 IDs, the users stay in full control of their data, can choose when and to whom they share their info, and can revoke permissions anytime.

So, where do these Web3 IDs impact the job market? To begin with, these IDs can overhaul how the hunt for employment is performed. Currently, applicants have to scroll through multiple job sites and countless listings, searching for the posts they feel most closely match their qualifications. With Web3 IDs and AI, this process could be automated. Potential candidates would be shown listings directly related to their credentials, and the hiring companies can take solace in the fact that these credentials cannot be falsified. This is especially important given a recent survey of 1,252 people by student finance marketplace LendEDU found that around 34% of them lie on their LinkedIn profiles.

Inversely, businesses could also easily be given a curated list of potential hires, automatically weeding out anyone lacking sufficient qualifications. This should make connecting positions with workers far safer and more efficient for all involved.

By utilizing a Web3 ID, job contracts can be made on-chain that are effectively impossible to break, with payment being automatically sent to the appropriate address as soon as services are rendered. This stands to help combat various forms of exploitative work practices and will hold companies accountable for paying all workers precisely as agreed.

What’s key here is that AI and Web3 together stand to build a better jobs market for businesses and employees alike. There are so many innovative ways that this technology can augment how humans interact with their work and be compensated for it. It eliminates the need for some of the more monotonous or repetitive jobs that previously only humans could do. The rise of these tech innovations can be a significant boon for our civilization and culture, freeing up people to earn their income in more fulfilling, meaningful, and mission-driven ways.