AI is a power tool. People are essential for using it

A recent survey indicates that the majority of recent and upcoming graduates are concerned that artificial intelligence could replace entry-level positions. However, AI is not poised to eliminate skilled workers, but rather to change what they can achieve. Throughout history, transformative technologies, such as spreadsheets and search engines, have led to predictions of mass job displacement, but in fact, they have only automated routine tasks and increased the value of workers who could analyze information, solve problems, and advise others.

MIT economist David Autor suggests that AI's greatest economic opportunity might be to extend expertise rather than replace it, enabling more people to perform higher-value work. While AI can summarize reports, organize information, generate code, and draft document drafts in seconds, it still requires human intervention to ask the right questions, recognize what matters, identify mistakes, and make crucial decisions when stakes are high.

Therefore, employers continue to prioritize communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills above all else, as these skills are difficult to automate and will only become more valuable as AI becomes more capable. In healthcare, AI can sift through vast amounts of data from various sources far more efficiently than humans, potentially detecting critical issues like patients' glucose levels, heart rhythms, or diagnostic patterns.

However, AI cannot decide whether a patient should change medications, alter a treatment plan, or explain findings to patients.

AI has helped Abbott develop medical technologies that offer personalized health insights, and it has assisted IT, business, and distribution teams in improving inventory placement and reducing transportation costs. However, these breakthroughs rely heavily on the people who build the algorithms, validate them, determine their fit into patient care, and gain the trust of end-users.

Employers are beginning to recognize and reward the combination of human judgment and AI fluency. In fact, a recent Microsoft Work Trend Index survey found that seven in 10 managers prefer to hire a less experienced candidate with AI competencies over a more experienced one without them. This news is encouraging for new graduates, as AI fluency is becoming a highly marketable skill in an increasingly competitive job market.

Ultimately, AI is becoming the "power tool" of this generation, allowing skilled workers to accomplish far more in their hands.