AUSTIN, Texas — With the increasing utilization of AI, we find ourselves in the midst of a data-driven information battle.

AI is impacting all industries, and at South by Southwest this past week, IBM Senior Vice President Nickle LaMoreaux, Forbes Senior Editor Jena McGregor, Handshake CEO and co-founder Garrett Lord and Society for Human Resource Management Chief Human Resources Officer Jim Link sat down to talk about how AI is changing the way we look at jobs and how employers identify talent.

LaMoreaux discussed how AI could potentially dramatically change the job market and how we look at it, saying, “the thing we need to be rightfully scared about is job change and how we are going to get ready for that.”

LaMoreaux went on to talk about how “there is a skills shortage in this country.” She said birth rates all around the country have fallen. There may be fewer people around to do some jobs in the future and “AI may be the only answer.”

As AI becomes more common in the workplace, recent college graduates may have an advantage because companies will look for people who can easily learn and adapt to the use of AI. 

“Applying these tools to the deep domain expertise and business processes, and I think it will be exciting to see these companies that get that right,” LaMoreaux said. 

While there are concerns about job loss to AI, LaMoreaux stressed that "very few jobs can be replaced by AI."

AI may change the way we approach our jobs, but it will not eliminate our jobs. LaMoreaux added that she thinks about 1-2% of jobs may be impacted by AI, but all of us in the workforce will have to change the way we approach AI.

Link said “there’s other research out there that shows that AI will actually generate more jobs than it eliminates. Those people who are AI-savvy and have AI skills could replace those who do not have the skills.”

In a recent report, CNBC stated IBM has let go of employees in its communications and marketing divisions, opting to use AI for non-customer-facing positions. IBM CEO Arvind Krishna said about a year ago that he wants to look at using AI more and replacing staff.

LaMoreaux said she thinks Krishna’s comments were taken a little bit “out of context.” Later in the panel, she talked about how she thinks a lot of companies want to be “in growth mode” when it comes to AI. They don’t want to make people’s jobs disappear, but they do want to help them with AI.

The biggest takeaway 

LaMoreaux highlighted that it’s important for people to learn and adapt to the skills with utilizing AI because that will set many people apart as AI becomes more a part of our world.

“AI is going to affect everybody’s job — the foundation, the thought process, the ways of working that is going to continue,” she said. 

“We just need to be comfortable with giving up control,” LaMoreaux added towards the end of the panel.

The biggest takeaway from this panel is that it’s important for people to get used to having AI and to hone your skills and be OK with learning more soft skills surrounding it.