AI's Impact on Work 'Very Visible'
The impact of AI on knowledge work is no longer theoretical, it's “becoming very visible,” according to tech exec Vishal Sikka. In a recent interview, he noted that AI is now taking over routine analysis and content generation in fields like law and finance. Sikka warned that companies must proactively retrain their workforces or risk falling behind.
The World Economic Forum's 2023 Future of Jobs report projected that AI would displace 83 million jobs globally while creating 69 million new ones by 2027, resulting in a net loss of 14 million jobs. Conversely, analysts at PwC have estimated that AI and automation could contribute up to $15 trillion to the global GDP by 2030. In the legal field, generative AI tools like Harvey and Spellbook are being used to streamline legal research, draft initial contracts, and review documents, tasks that traditionally consumed significant time for lawyers and paralegals. Finance departments are deploying AI for regulatory compliance checks, fraud detection, and automating customer support, with fintech company Klarna reporting its AI assistant can do the work of 700 customer service agents. A 2025 survey by the American Psychological Association found that nearly 47% of U.S. workers used AI tools at least monthly, an increase from 34% the previous year. Despite this adoption, a significant training gap exists; a Jobs For The Future survey revealed that while 77% of workers expect AI to affect their careers within five years, only 31% have received any AI-related training from their employers. In response, major corporations are launching large-scale upskilling initiatives. Companies like JPMorgan Chase, MasterCard, and Ikea are rolling out AI training programs for tens of thousands of employees, not just technical staff. Tech firms have also set ambitious goals, with IBM aiming to train 2 million people in AI by the end of 2026 and Intel targeting 30 million people by 2030. The impact of AI appears to differ by experience level. Recent data suggests AI is augmenting the work of experienced professionals while substituting for entry-level workers. Since late 2022, employment has declined by 1% in the sectors most exposed to AI, with the drop being most pronounced for workers under the age of 25. Historically, technological shifts have created new job categories that were previously unimaginable. A study by economist David Autor found that 60% of the jobs performed today did not exist in 1940, with technological progress accounting for the vast majority of employment growth since then. Vishal Sikka has echoed this, urging a focus on creating the next generation of jobs rather than panicking about the displacement of old ones.
