The rise of artificial intelligence has sparked concerns that human skills may become obsolete. However, this fear is unfounded. Our world will always have opportunities for those willing to learn and adapt.
While AI can seem intimidating, it can actually motivate us to expand our own capabilities. The author shares a story about a consultant who was able to quickly fix a malfunctioning machine using his specialized skills, demonstrating the continued value of human expertise.
The book "The Skill Code" by Matt Beane explores this issue in depth. Beane explains that the key to developing valuable skills is the "see one, do one, teach one" approach - working with experts, gradually taking on more complex tasks, and then guiding others. This process has been used for centuries, from surgery to carpentry.
However, the shift to hybrid and remote work threatens this traditional skill development model. As intelligent technologies allow us to be more "self-serve" in our work, we may end up compromising our own skill growth and limiting the next generation.
Beane argues that the solution lies in investing in the expert-novice relationship, not just mentorships. This means building a "network of human experts, novices, and AI" that can learn and grow together. Organizations should focus on the "three Ds" - discovering the best ways to preserve skills, developing technologies and processes that foster both productivity and skill development, and deploying them thoughtfully.
By addressing both the technical and social aspects, we can preserve human skills while harnessing the benefits of new technologies. This will create a self-improving system where skill development is a consequence, not a casualty, of technological progress.