The “Future Professionals” podcast: Riding the wave of AI optimism
New podcast showcases how professionals collectively are getting more experience with generative AI and becoming more comfortable, optimistic, and knowledgeable about the new technology
In the podcast, Mike Abbott, head of the Thomson Reuters Institute, and Steve Hasker, president and CEO of Thomson Reuters, discuss the report, which interviewed thousands of professionals across many organizations worldwide, and demonstrated that the rise of AI and GenAI remains the dominant issue that these professionals see propelling change in their work.
Notably, as the podcast points out, more than three-quarters of respondents said they now believe AI and GenAI will revolutionize their work, a 10-percentage-point increase.
Steve Hasker
“Collectively, professionals are getting more experience with these advanced tools, leading them to be more comfortable and knowledgeable in their use.”
Indeed, as Hasker notes, this increased level of AI anticipation and recognition is being driven by many people’s greater personal experience and the wider adoption of AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and others. “Collectively, professionals are getting more experience with these advanced tools, leading them to be more comfortable and knowledgeable in their use,” Hasker says.
Like the report itself, the podcast takes a look at the state of where AI is now – roughly 20 months after the public release of ChatGPT, the public-facing GenAI platform that took the world by storm in late-2022.
The podcast also hits on many of the highlights of the report, which when taken together, demonstrate a more nuance, accepting, and optimistic view of AI and GenAI’s ultimate impact on professional life, including:
Seeing GenAI as a force for good — The podcast notes how this year’s report reveals a significant decrease in apprehension surrounding AI, with 78% of professionals now viewing this innovative technology as a force for good. This positive shift can be attributed to a growing awareness of its potential to create new work roles, streamline existing processes, and enhance work-life balance.
Indeed, many respondents’ fears that widespread AI adoption across professional work would lead to job loss has now given way to an expectation among many professionals that more AI-specialist and technology-related jobs will be created.
Mike Abbott
Among the most positive aspects of AI’s impact over the next five year includes “innovation, time spent on engagement and judgement-based or expertise work, and opportunities for skills building.”
Estimating significant time-savings — Another compelling finding in the report that is discussed in the podcast is the expected time savings offered by more widespread AI use, with an estimated savings of four hours per week in the next year, potentially reaching 12 hours per week by 2029. This translates to substantial financial gains for many organizations and greatly improved efficiency and productivity for individuals.
Abbott said among the most positive aspects of AI’s impact over the next five year that respondents cited included “innovation, time spent on engagement and judgement-based or expertise work, and opportunities for skills building.”
However, concerns do remain about potential workload increases, highlighting the need for careful management of these newfound efficiencies.
Understanding the need for responsible development — The podcast also discusses how the report highlights the importance of responsible AI development. Professionals on every level advocated for guardrails, with a majority supporting certification processes and industry-specific standards. Thomson Reuters addresses this by prioritizing data privacy, promising to protect customer information and ensuring transparency in its AI outputs.
The overarching takeaway from the report and the podcast is clear: Optimism for AI’s future is growing. While acknowledging potential challenges, many professionals said they now recognize AI’s power to foster innovation, unlock greater efficiency, and enhance job satisfaction. And as AI continues to evolve, continuous learning, ethical development, and a focus on human-centered applications will be crucial to realizing its full potential and reaping the potential benefits that are increasingly becoming evident.
