AI and the future of work: discussing impact and adaptation
1
Think about these questions before reading. Share your ideas with a partner.
- What's the most impressive or surprising way you've seen AI used in your daily life or work so far?
- If you could automate one part of your job or studies using AI, what would it be and why?
- Looking ahead ten years, what new skills do you think will be most important for professionals to learn because of advancements in AI?
2
Discussing a New AI Tool
Listen to the dialogue. Notice how the vocabulary and grammar from the lesson are used.
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Vocabulary
Vocabulary
These expressions will help you communicate more naturally about this topic.
Examples
To streamline a process — to make a system or process more effective and efficient, often by simplifying it.
Usage note: This is common in business contexts. You can streamline operations, a workflow, or production.
A steep learning curve — the situation of needing to learn a lot in a short amount of time.
Usage note: Often used with 'face' or 'have'. For example, 'Adapting to the new AI software involved a steep learning curve for the team.'
To be made redundant — to lose your job because your employer no longer needs you, often due to new technology or restructuring.
Usage note: This is a common, slightly formal phrase. It focuses on the role being eliminated, not the person's performance.
To phase something out — to gradually stop using or providing something over a period of time.
Usage note: This phrasal verb is useful for talking about transitions. For instance, 'The company is phasing out manual data entry.'
On the flip side — used to introduce an opposing or alternative view of a situation.
Usage note: This is a great discourse marker for debates and discussions, similar to 'on the other hand'. It helps you present a balanced argument.
4
Complete the sentences with words from the box. One word is extra.
Word bank
01With the rise of AI, many manual data entry skills are becoming and are being replaced by automated systems.
02To stay relevant in the changing job market, employees are encouraged to and learn how to work alongside new technologies.
03Many companies are looking for ways to repetitive tasks like scheduling and invoicing to free up employees for more creative work.
04The future of work may not be about humans versus machines, but rather about effective between them to achieve better results.
05New AI-powered startups are beginning to traditional industries like finance and healthcare by offering more efficient services.
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Grammar: Speculating about the future
Grammar
When we discuss topics like AI and the future of work, we often need to express how certain or uncertain we are. Instead of only using 'will', we use modal verbs (like 'may', 'might', 'could') and other future forms to show different degrees of probability. This makes our predictions sound more nuanced and realistic.
Examples
AI might completely change the way we approach creative work.
Use 'might', 'may', or 'could' to express a possibility, not a certainty. They are often interchangeable.
Given the investment in the technology, automation is likely to become more common in logistics.
Use expressions like 'is/are likely to' or 'is/are expected to' to suggest a strong probability.
By 2040, many of us will be working alongside AI assistants in our daily jobs.
Use the future continuous ('will be' + -ing) to describe an ongoing action or situation at a specific point in the future.
Key points
- Use 'may', 'might', and 'could' for possibilities, and 'will' for stronger predictions or intentions.
- Vary your language with phrases like 'It's possible that...', 'There's a good chance that...', and 'It's unlikely that...'.
- A common mistake is using 'will' for every future idea. In discussions, showing some uncertainty often sounds more natural and thoughtful.
6
Spot the mistake
Read the sentences below. Each one has a single error related to grammar or vocabulary.
Find the error in each sentence and write the corrected version.
01The introduction of new AI systems often mean a steep learning curve for employees.
Corrected version
The introduction of new AI systems often mean means a steep learning curve for employees.
02By the time we retire, AI will probably replace most manual labour jobs.
Corrected version
By the time we retire, AI will probably replace have replaced most manual labour jobs.
03Many workers are afraid of being done redundant by new technologies.
Corrected version
Many workers are afraid of being done made redundant by new technologies.
04The company plans phasing out the old software over the next two years.
Corrected version
The company plans phasing to phase out the old software over the next two years.
05On the flip side of the coin, AI could also create opportunities for more creative work.
Corrected version
On the flip side, of the coin, AI could also create opportunities for more creative work.
06The main goal of this new technology is to streamline our operational efficient.
Corrected version
The main goal of this new technology is to streamline our operational efficient. efficiency.
07We might to see significant changes in the job market within the next five years.
Corrected version
We might to see significant changes in the job market within the next five years.
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Adapting to the future of work
Read the passage about how the job market is evolving with the rise of AI.
Fill in each blank with the correct word from the word bank.
Word bank
Many companies are adopting AI to their operations, hoping to increase efficiency. For employees, this can mean a learning curve as they adapt to new systems. There's a genuine concern that some roles will be out completely, and as a result, many workers could be redundant. However, the flip side, new, more creative jobs might emerge that require human oversight. It's difficult to predict the exact outcome, but continuous learning will likely be for career survival.
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Reading: a case study in adaptation
The following text describes how one company managed the transition to using AI in its finance department.
Read the passage below, then answer the comprehension questions.
When a logistics firm decided to streamline its invoicing process with an AI system, the initial reaction from the accounting team was fear. Many worried they would be made redundant as the new software took over their duties. The old manual system was scheduled to be phased out over six months, and everyone faced a steep learning curve adapting to the new platform. The transition was undeniably stressful. On the flip side, the outcome was surprising. Once the team mastered the new tools, they found their roles shifting. Instead of data entry, they were now analyzing financial trends and advising other departments. It's likely that by next year, the AI will have completely taken over all routine invoicing. The company believes its employees will probably be focusing on higher-level strategic planning, a shift that could redefine what an 'accountant' even is.
01What was the main reason the company introduced the AI system?
Sample answerThe company wanted to streamline its invoicing process, making it more efficient.
02According to the text, what was the primary concern among the accounting team members at first?
Sample answerThey were worried that they would lose their jobs and be made redundant by the new technology.
03How did the employees' jobs change after they adapted to the new system?
Sample answerTheir roles shifted from simple data entry to more complex tasks like analyzing financial trends and advising other departments.
04What does the author imply about the long-term impact of AI on the accounting profession in this company?
Sample answerThe author implies that AI will free accountants from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic and valuable work, potentially changing the definition of the job itself.
9
Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.
- When AI makes certain jobs redundant, who do you believe holds the primary responsibility for retraining the affected workers: the government, the companies implementing the AI, or the individuals themselves? Justify your position.
- Thinking about your own country or industry, which jobs or processes do you foresee being phased out due to AI in the next decade? On the flip side, what new opportunities might emerge?
- Some argue that while AI can streamline many processes, the steep learning curve required for the new jobs it creates will lead to greater inequality. To what extent do you agree with this statement?