"Universities need to prepare students for a working life with AI"
The gaming company Mindark is laying off half of its staff to focus on artificial intelligence. The news does not surprise business economist Mari Paananen. She believes that AI's increasingly prominent role in the labour market makes it even more important to equip today's students with the skills to navigate the new job landscape.
25 employees are laid off as Gothenburg-based computer games company Mindark invests heavily in artificial intelligence. The fact that a company is almost halving its workforce to replace humans with AI is attracting attention and the magazine Kollega, Göteborgs-Posten and Dagens Nyheter are just some of the media that have reported on the news.
AI has redrawn the map
However, Mari Paananen, Associate Professor of Business Administration at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, does not see this as unexpected. Instead, she believes that this is something we will see more of, as AI is rapidly redrawing the map of the labour market.
"AI is here whether you like it or not. This obviously has consequences in the labour market, and it is now important to deal with it in a constructive way," she says.
Students demand more knowledge about AI
Mari Paananen reports that students are increasingly contacting her and asking for a greater focus on AI, and she believes that the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg has made some progress in meeting the growing need for knowledge, but more will be required. She says that AI development is increasingly noticeable in different parts of the labour market.
"In my teaching, I work with various companies in Gothenburg. I see, among other things, controllers who have a significantly different role as AI has become an integral part of the business. Previously, it could be that you worked with the monthly reports for several weeks. This is no longer the case, as users have access to data visualisation tools such as dashboards, which show trends in data in real time. This means that new ways of analysing data are required."
Crucial to adapt
Law, accounting and marketing are just some of the other examples of professional fields that are already being affected and where AI will lead to fundamental changes, says Mari Paananen.
"The fear of losing your job is in many cases justified, but opportunities are also being created," she says.
She therefore believes that it is crucial to see reality as it is and adapt to the new conditions.
"If you can't beat them, join them" is a wise expression that I think can be applied to this. AI is here and now it is up to us to orientate ourselves in the new reality, and take advantage of the opportunities that arise. There are certainly challenges, but universities must prepare students for a working life with AI. This is crucial.
Law, accounting and marketing are just some of the other examples of professional fields that are already being affected and where AI will lead to fundamental changes, says Mari Paananen.
"The fear of losing your job is in many cases justified, but opportunities are also being created," she says.
Mari Paananen therefore believes that it is crucial to see reality as it is and adapt to the new conditions.
"If you can't beat them, join them" is a wise expression that I think can be applied to this. AI is here and now it is up to us to orientate ourselves in the new reality, and take advantage of the opportunities that arise. There are certainly challenges, but universities must prepare students for a working life with AI. This is crucial."
By: Agnes Faxén