AI Stole My Job: The Paradox of Teaching AI
AI stole my job! OMG… It happened! The very technology I spent years mastering, the one I’ve been teaching and promoting, just stole my job. In this surreal scenario, I find myself torn between the exhilaration of Artificial Intelligence’s capabilities and the cold reality of its implications.
My Journey to A.I.
My journey into the world of Artificial Intelligence wasn’t exactly traditional. I began in the realm of electronic engineering, where circuits and PCB designs were my daily companions. But then, I saw a new wave rising — Artificial Intelligence. It promised to revolutionize the world, and I was thrilled to be part of it. However, the transition wasn’t as smooth as I had hoped.
The available resources were too academic, the online deep-learning tutorials were outdated, and support was often non-responsive. There was a maze of confusion, and I was lost. Stack Overflow seemed like a dead-end, and the frequent updates of the GitHub repos were draining. The complexity and rapid evolution of AI left me grappling with countless frustrations. But in these challenges, I saw an opportunity.
I began documenting my journey — the problems I encountered and the solutions I devised — initially in the form of YouTube videos and online courses. Udemy was my first platform, but as I expanded my knowledge and honed my teaching style, I soon realized that I needed a platform that could accommodate the growing breadth and depth of my work. This led me to launch my own platform.
I found myself creating and earning well from courses on AI and Computer Vision. The mission was clear, which was to focus on bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application which could be used to solve real-world problems. We grew our YouTube channel to over 100K subscribers and thought students from large corporate entities like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon as well as prestigious institutions like MIT and Stanford Universities.
Yet, even as I was making strides in educating others about AI, I couldn’t shake off a gnawing fear…
Global Turmoil + Rise of LLMs
Towards the end of 2021, the world was embroiled in a series of crises. The conflict in Ukraine, rising political tensions, and a global recession began to take a toll. We saw a decrease in the demand for our courses. It made sense; people were struggling to survive, let alone invest in education. I hoped that this trend would be temporary, a blip in an otherwise steady trajectory.
However, as we moved into 2023, I noticed a change that gave me pause. The advent of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT transformed how people accessed information. The preferred method of learning was no longer through search engines or courses but through dynamic, interactive conversations with AI chatbots.”
Amidst these changing times, I remained both optimistic and confident in my role. Being a course creator, especially in the field of cutting-edge technology, seemed like a secure profession. But as the ripple effect of AI advancements began to spread, I saw traditional jobs starting to fade away. Journalists, artists, proofreaders, roles once considered irreplaceable, were being overtaken by AI. The testimonials from these professionals painted a chilling picture: a reality where AI was replacing human expertise.
Journalists: “I was an investigative journalist for over 15 years. Now, AI algorithms can write comprehensive news articles within seconds. I feel like my years of experience and expertise have been rendered irrelevant.”
Artist: “As a digital artist, I prided myself on creating unique pieces. Now, AI can produce artwork that is often indistinguishable from human-created art. It’s unsettling to think that creativity can be replicated by a machine.”
Proofreader: “I used to proofread manuscripts for a living. But now, advanced AI grammar tools not only correct spelling and punctuation errors but also suggest better sentence structures. My meticulous attention to detail seems unnecessary in this AI-dominated world.”
Customer Service Agent: “Chatbots have taken over customer service. With their 24/7 availability and instant responses, I found myself out of a job.”
If coders were next on the chopping block, it begged a worrying question — Would courses designed to teach coding also become irrelevant?
The AI in Coding
Consider the emergence of ChatGPT Codex and GitHub Copilot X, coding assistants powered by AI. With the capability to generate code in response to a prompt, the role of coders could be facing a significant shift. There might come a time (or maybe it's already upon us) when an entire app could(or can) be coded with a single prompt. With AI systems becoming smarter and more autonomous, it raises the question of our relevance in this rapidly changing landscape.
The Future of AI Education: Adapting to Change
This revolution necessitates us to re-evaluate our teaching focus. Our role as educators may not just be about teaching traditional coding anymore; it’s also about guiding learners on how to effectively use these AI tools — ‘prompt engineering’. We should not be competing with AI; instead, we’re evolving to teach how to synergize with it. This new reality calls for an updated approach to education all over the world, ensuring learners remain skilled and relevant in an AI-augmented world.
How do Educators Navigate our Future?
While the emergence of AI and LLMs might seem intimidating, it’s crucial to see them not as threats but as tools that can aid content creation. They can provide ideas, assist with content generation, and speed up the process, but the final product still needs a human touch. Our courses, backed by AI tools, should obviously ensure a high-quality learning experience tailored to the learner’s needs.
However, it’s prudent to recognize that AI is constantly evolving. The assumptions we hold about AI’s limitations in this era, in regard to critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, and empathy may be challenged in the future. For now, we can safely say that AI aids us, but doesn’t completely replace us (except for those jobs, it has already replaced). The future, however, will require us to continuously adapt, evolve and reimagine our roles as educators in an AI-augmented world.”
Preparing for the AI Era Together
AI is here, reshaping our world, stirring mixed feelings of anticipation and anxiety. If you’re feeling disoriented or even jobless in the face of these rapid changes, remember — you’re not alone. At Augmented Startups, we understand your predicament because we’ve experienced it too.
See, AI is more of an ally than an adversary. It’s a tool to enhance our abilities, not make them obsolete. And we’re committed to helping you leverage it.
To a friend in need, I offer you this: our free course to get you started with ChatGPT and LLMs, as well as consultation to help pivot your business into an AI-embracing model. Join our community by subscribing to our newsletter [CLICK HERE]. Together, let’s turn uncertainty into opportunity, and march confidently into the AI-empowered future. You’re not alone in this journey.”
