Site icon Exceptional EA

Weekend Poll Results: How Assistants Really Feel About Digitization and AI

Exceptional EA

With thanks to all who participated, here are your responses to my question … How are you feeling about digitization and AI? 

In the short term

I asked readers whether you’re concerned that robots and computers could replace you in your job in the next five years, and only 13% of respondents identified as either “somewhat” or “very” worried. Thirty-eight percent reported being “not too worried” and almost half the respondents, 49%, reported that you’re “not at all” worried.

Those numbers shifted, though, when I asked whether you’re concerned about whether those same innovations could significantly change your job in the next five years. Only 18% of respondents reported that you’re not at all concerned. Fifty-eight percent reported being “not too concerned”, while another 24% identified as being “somewhat” or “very” concerned.

In the longer term 

… the percentages continued to shuffle when I posed the same two questions, but looking forward 10 years. When it comes to potential for robots and computers to replace you in your job in the next decade, 31% of respondents identified as either “somewhat” or “very” worried. Thirty-sixpercent reported being “not too worried” and almost half the respondents, 33%, reported that you’re “not at all” worried.

What about concerns that robots and computers could significantly change your job in the next decade? Fourteen percent of respondents reported that you’re not at all concerned. Forty-four percent reported being “not too concerned”, while another 42% identified as being “somewhat” or “very” concerned.

 It’s a complete 360 from the way we have always done things

IR4.0 and change are already here 

I’ve been writing about and presenting on IR4.0, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, for some time now. It’s upon us, and so it’s unsurprising that 51% of respondents reported affirmatively when I asked whether digitization has changed the way you execute your responsibilities in the last year.

Assistants are anticipating additional changes coming down the pipes, as well. When I asked whether readers anticipate digitization changing the manner in which you execute any of your responsibilities in the next 24 months, the numbers went up and 60% of you responded with a “yes”.

It helps to be comfortable with change

… and that’s the case for many of you. A full 58% percent of respondents reported that you’re very comfortable with change. I asked readers to assign a rating of 1 (low), 2 or 3 when it comes to your own comfort level when it comes to change, and a modest 4% of respondents selected the lowest possible rating.  I wasn’t surprised that the majority of you selected the other two rating indicators; assistants spend their working lives adjusting and responding to change. For the 4% who are uncomfortable with such prospects, acknowledging this discomfort is a good first step. Now you need to determine how to tackle and ideally overcome that feeling.

I’m not 100% digital and uncertain if I’ll ever be, but I do anticipate utilizing more digital platforms over the next two years

Looking forward to job changes as a result of digitization

I asked readers to select one of five responses to describe the way you feel about the potential that digitalization may change your job. Some great news: no one selected the response that would suggest denial. Four percent of respondents think all this talk is overblown and that digitization won’t make a lot of difference.

Another 18% of respondents reported being cautiously curious, and almost a third (31%) reported that you’re reading and learning all you can to try and prepare. A full 47% reported being pleased, and anticipated creation of opportunities to add value in different ways.

… it is more likely that new skills are expected from me and I try to discern which they will be, so that I am prepared when the time comes

 

What will it look like?

Have a look at the data below for readers’ comments on changes in just the past 12 months to how you execute your responsibilites … and to see further changes your peers are anticipating in the next 24 months! How to prepare? Watch for more on this in my upcoming book.

THE DATANote: Information below reflects the percentage of respondents who selected specific responses from multiple choice options.  In instances where more than one person offers similar responses to an open ended question, I typically cluster or paraphrase such responses rather than duplicating all of them.

1. How worried are you that robots and computers could REPLACE you in your job in the next 5 years?

2. How concerned are you that robots and computers could SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE your job in the next 5 years? 

3.  How worried are you that robots and computers could REPLACE you in your job in the next 10 years? 

4. How concerned are you that robots and computers could SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE your job in the next 10 years? 

5. Has digitization changed the way you execute any of your responsibilities in the last year? 

6.  If you answered “yes”, how has digitization changed the way you execute any of your responsibilities in the last year? 

7. Do you anticipate digitization changing the manner in which you execute any of your responsibilities in the next 24 months? 

8. If you answered “yes” to # 5, how do you anticipate digitization may change the way you execute any of your responsibilities in the next 24 months?  

9.  On a scale of 1 (low; uncomfortable) to 3 (high; very comfortable), how comfortable with change are you? 

10.  Which of the following best describes the way you feel about the possibility that digitization could change your job? 

Exit mobile version