Article originally published in May 2018
The more the demand for employees skilled in artificial intelligence (AI) increases, the more we realize that human brains are still and always needed. And especially those of women!
The field of artificial intelligence is a great opportunity for women, but also for those with a developed emotional quotient. Here’s why.
In an article published by the digital media Quartz, journalist Rebecca Searles explains that in order to stay relevant in a world where many jobs are automated, we need to rely on the aspects that make us human, such as emotional intelligence. Careers such as psychotherapist, teacher and social worker require a real understanding of what it means to be human. The number of jobs in professions that emphasize interpersonal skills, such as those in the healthcare field, will continue to grow, along with the increased automation of many other jobs. Studies on emotional intelligence have shown that women have a distinct advantage over men in this area, as they outperform men in understanding, expressing and perceiving emotions.
People who want to stay relevant in their profession need to aim for where artificial intelligence is no good: the emotional, recounts Megan Beck in a Harvard Business Review article. We already know that AI is an excellent tool in the healthcare industry, in cancer detection, for example. Indeed, when a doctor makes a diagnosis, he relies on his knowledge and experience. In a 60-year career, there is a limit to the number of cases he can observe. But AI makes it possible to multiply this number by millions of cases, making the diagnosis even more precise and reliable. Once the diagnosis has been made, who will tell the patient? The human being, with his empathy, is the most appropriate and necessary person.
Are you a woman who wants to work in artificial intelligence but lacks technical skills? No problem! The job market of the fourth industrial revolution increasingly requires people to possess soft skills, the World Economic Forum announced in 2017. Businesses need human skills to complement machine efficiency: problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, resilience and so on. All with the aim of making better decisions. Doing all the work of collecting and analyzing data to give a recommendation or a trend is AI’s strength. However, the final decision or recourse to alternative solutions rests with the human.
By concentrating on the areas where artificial intelligence is not good, we also ensure that jobs are secure. We also face up to the widespread fear that “robots will take our jobs”.
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