Adapting to the Future: How to Stay Relevant in a Tech-Driven World

The evolution of technology and artificial intelligence through the years has always been deemed a double-edged sword, and the reasons for that aren't far-fetched. While it plays a huge role in helping humans and making job delivery much more seamless, it also has some drawbacks that affect us humans in some ways. For instance, some skills and courses have become redundant due to their introduction, leading to loss of job for some people and the need to seek a new path to remain relevant in this technology-driven world.

I'm one of those who love technology and the impact it's been having in human lives, and that's one of the major reasons why I studied a course that revolves around it, talking about computer science, but despite how exceptional technology is, its continual changes and innovation have been unpleasant to some people, although I won't say it's entirely bad, because as humans we shouldn't remain in the same spot for ever; instead, through the years, regarding what we studied, we should always seek new knowledge and learn valuable and relevant courses that meet the trend of the day, and that's why we'll continually be relevant in an AI-driven world.

I can remember then; some of the notable jobs people look forward to doing are cleck, typist, customer care representative, and several others, to name but a few. I remember several years ago the major jobs you'd hear someone say they'd be hoping to do after graduating from the above, especially cleck. Fast forward to the present day, and due to technology and artificial intelligence, such isn't a thing any more; in fact, I'm not sure any workforce still employs people to fill the role because technological devices can literally perform their job more efficiently at the speed of light.

Imagine someone who studied a course related to being a cleck and learned how to use the typewriter, but as time passes and refuses to evolve with type and learn model computing gadgets such as computers and the use of keyboards, such an individual in the end would be rendered jobless because in this age typewriters are now obsolete and holding onto that knowledge won't get you anywhere except you improve.

Same can be related to other courses; even though no knowledge is a waste, that doesn't mean we shouldn't acquire new ones, because doing so is what makes us continually relevant regardless of the time, age, or technology that's in use at that point in time. I remember a few years ago, when mobile phones and communication networks just came to Nigeria, we used to have many people who envisioned working in that field, especially their customer care representatives.

Back then, when you called the customer care line, there were several people employed to relate with their customers and attend to all complaints or inquiries that might have made them call in, but today the same isn't the case. Unlike then, when you called and would surely speak with a customer care representative, now I believe those organizations have reduced the number of humans employed to play that role and instead introduced an autobot and a chatbot that help interact with customers.

Most of these bots have been programmed to interact with humans and are embedded with many solutions to what counts as a customer call in, so rather than speaking with customer care, these bots tend to ask you key questions that help them understand why you're calling, and before you know it, while following each instruction proposed by the bot, you'll end up getting solutions to your problems.

And it's only when the bot deems your issue beyond it that it'll suggest you speak with a human representative of the organization. This is one of the key factors why most people are losing their jobs, but as you can see, despite the introduction of the bot, not everyone will be let off. Showing your commitment to continually stand out in our respective jobs or fields of professional is what will determine our fate in a technology-driven world, and one way to stand out is to continually learn and acquire valuable skills.

So it's not like they necessarily need an alternative course, but to expand their knowledge and horizons regardless of what they study. Getting admission into the university isn't easy, and most times you'll be given a course that isn't your choice. In other words, don't keep waiting for the right course because what you're given is obsolete; you can still accept it, but be determined to acquire more knowledge along the line, especially some professional skills and courses that can be acquired on some top website like Udemy.

All photos are mine.