This week, I had the privilege of presenting at the Gartner Reimagine event.  My reflections on the various keynotes by leaders prompted me to ponder the following:

Over the past few years, HR leaders have made significant strides in key initiatives, such as embracing hybrid work, prioritizing skills-based hiring, implementing global delivery models, and promoting employee wellness.  While HR has acknowledged the rapid advancement of Generative AI, with many leaders discussing its potential, I believe there remains a lack of clarity regarding creating new roles in a post-generative AI world.  This issue is of utmost importance because when employees are provided with detailed information about new job opportunities, it fosters trust and alleviates concerns about job displacement.

Top new roles for 2024 and beyond

1.0  Human-AI Interaction Designers:

With the increasing prevalence of AI, there will be a rising demand for individuals capable of crafting and developing systems that facilitate seamless interaction between humans and artificial intelligence. 

2.0  AI Researchers: 

AI researchers are crucial in advancing generative AI tools and systems.  They are responsible for developing innovative models and algorithms to enhance efficiency, improve existing AI tools, and identify potential applications of AI for process optimization and meeting business requirements.  AI researchers should comprehensively understand data and automation infrastructure, machine learning models, AI tools, algorithms, data science, programming, and the ability to construct AI models from the ground up. 

3.0  Prompt engineers:  (this is one role many are familiar with)

Prompt Engineers are essential for ensuring the accuracy of generative AI tools, including text-to-text and text-to-image models.  They require natural language processing, coding, queries, and neural network expertise.  More importantly, they require a business context. 

4.0  AI writer

Many companies increasingly rely on AI for content generation, including tasks like crafting blog posts and product descriptions.  However, the outcomes are not always flawless and often require human intervention to refine and make them sound more relatable and human-friendly to readers.  Companies are actively seeking skilled writers and editors who can efficiently enhance content generated by generative AI, ensuring it is well-written and easily comprehensible for the target audience.

5.0  AI artist

AI art is a growing field within generative AI, with tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion gaining traction in the past year.  These tools can create unique content or enhance existing imagery based on prompts or images.  Organizations see potential in generating marketing materials, product images, and other art-related content.  To tap into this potential, organizations seek experienced artists and graphic designers. 

6.0 Carbon accountant

A carbon accountant, also known as a carbon emissions accountant or accountant specialist, specializes in assessing, managing, and reporting an organization’s carbon emissions and carbon footprint.  Their primary role is tracking and analyzing the greenhouse gas emissions produced by an organization’s operations, including energy consumption, transportation, manufacturing processes, and more.

7.0 Green Construction Specialist

A green construction specialist specializes in designing and constructing environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient buildings and structures.  They focus on reducing environmental impact, conserving resources, and promoting sustainability in construction projects. 

8.0 Building Information Modeling Specialist

A building information specialist manages and utilizes digital information and models, often using Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, to enhance collaboration and efficiency in construction projects.

 9.0 AI Powered Employee Experience Manager  

Professionals who use AI tools to personalize and enhance employee experiences. 

10.0 Wellness Coordinator  

This role drives engagement, fosters a positive environment, and achieves desired outcomes. 

11.0 Automation and Robotics Specialists

Overseeing automated processes in Warehouses, ensuring smooth operations 

One remarkable aspect of this situation is that many of these roles can emerge as a direct outcome of providing upskilling and reskilling opportunities to our existing employees.  By investing in the development and growth of our current workforce, we can unlock their potential to fill these new positions and contribute effectively to the evolving landscape.  Even in this age of hype AI and automation, we must plan for a viable human skills strategy.  Humans are becoming precious, as shown by the World Bank graph on declining fertility rates below.

Source: 

Fertility rate, total (births per woman)

( 1 ) United Nations Population Division.  World Population Prospects: 2022 Revision.  ( 2 ) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, ( 3 ) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, ( 4 ) United Nations Statistical Division.  Population and Vital Statistics Report ( various years ), ( 5 ) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and ( 6 ) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.