4th July 2025 / AI Business Advice, Q&As
Is your employability threatened by Artificial Intelligence?
According to research *, some 26% of individuals feel overwhelmed by the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence, and what it means to their future employability. In this blog we take a look at the rise in AI and what you can do to protect your career. Should you avoid AI, or should you embrace it?
You’re Not Alone – and That’s Okay
It’s only natural to worry you don’t have the skills or expertise to keep up with new technology and find the pace of AI overwhelming. Take Lisa, a 25-year-old PR professional, based in Manchester who is starting to see AI as a threat. “When I started out in PR fresh from university, there was no way I could imagine Artificial Intelligence doing what I do. The quality or depth offered by AI just wasn’t comparable to what I’d been taught or what I could produce. But recently, I’m seeing the possibility that ChatGPT or similar could threaten my future. It’s scary.”
The Skills Gap Is Real – But It’s Also Bridgeable
As AI adoption accelerates across industries, a growing number of professionals of all ages are finding themselves unsure how to adapt. Whether you’re a team leader, marketer, HR specialist, or student, the fear of being left behind is valid. Studies consistently show that one of the biggest barriers to effective AI adoption is a lack of skills – not just technical ones, but also digital literacy, data interpretation, and critical thinking.
Training and Development Are the Game Changers
The good news? You can close the gap – and you don’t need a computer science degree to do it. The AI tools available today are increasingly intuitive, with many requiring little to no IT experience. What is required is a mindset of continuous learning and curiosity. Investing in upskilling – whether through formal training, self-paced courses, workshops, or hands-on experimentation – can rapidly build confidence and capability.
Organisations also play a key role. Forward-thinking businesses are prioritising AI literacy for all staff levels, offering internal training, and embedding AI education into professional development plans. These investments don’t just benefit individual careers – they future-proof teams and improve performance across the board. Be sure to check with your company, what they’re doing about upskilling staff. It’s so important to start these conversations now.
Start Small, Learn Often, Grow Fast
Think of AI as a new tool in your toolbox – not a threat, but a catalyst for growth. Artificial Intelligence is already very much part of our daily lives. Every time you see a ‘you might also like’ pop up on Amazon or Netflix, AI is in the background. Recommendation systems are smart tools that use machine learning to learn from what you’ve watched, listened to, or bought in the past. They help sort through tons of options to find things you’re most likely to enjoy next, making it easier to discover content you’ll love. We don’t pay much attention to AI in this context as we see it as a benefit to us rather than a threat.
Changing how you view Artificial Intelligence is key. Thinking of how AI might help you in your work is the way to go. Start by learning the basics: What can AI do? What problems can it help solve in my role or industry? Experiment with low-risk use cases, like automating repetitive tasks or generating ideas. Over time, these small steps lead to big gains, and you’ll start to feel less overwhelmed.
You don’t have to be an expert overnight. You just have to be willing to learn.
So, tell us – are you feeling confident or concerned about your AI skills? Vote in our poll and let’s start the conversation.
* Acas, March 27 and April 1, 2025
