As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to progress to the next stage, there is grave concern about the implications this new technology has for job security. The debate about AI’s presence in the workplace has begun. Alarm bells were raised when Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicted that this facet of the fourth industrial revolution could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs over the next five years. Wade Seale, Africa AI Ethics Carnegie Corporation New York postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Humanities in Africa (HUMA) at UCT, argued that while many AI companies have been feeding off paid marketing and creating fear around the “coulds” and “what ifs,” there remains a genuine level of concern.
“Consider the fact that AI is becoming more and more capable, it is slowly but surely sneaking up on us. A few years ago, seasoned copywriters were able to spot that a piece of writing was produced by an AI, which has now vanished, and we have passed that stage.” AI tools have greatly advanced in replacing roles in data, routine analysis, and administrative tasks. Seale added that while many have argued that people using AI, creating the prompts, would replace people who don’t use AI, that is no longer the case.
“Prompting is fast disappearing, it is not going to be this major career path that you can choose. And if you play with AI now, you will find that you speak to it in plain English, and it is quite intuitive.
“AI’s ability to mimic human beings is too good. So, I am concerned that accountants, journalists, copywriters, SEO, lawyers… I can’t see how these jobs are not impacted in a major way by AI,” he said.
AI has developed an intuition of its own that may be more intelligent than the average human brain. As a technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIR), AI is seeking to dominate everything it comes into contact with and interacts with. The employment of thousands of South African citizens could be at risk if a compromise is not found. Human efficiency has its advantages when utilized correctly. The focus should be on training and education, depending on the talent available. Robotics, automation, and AI all have their advantages, but they must be regulated by legislation from the state to prevent them from replacing humans in the workplace. Those who utilize AI prompts (whether a question, command, or statement given to an AI platform) show that most people understand this form of IT and its intelligent nature.
Investment in re-skilling programmes should be supported through partnerships between the private and public sectors. Public debates on the retraining and education of employees in both private enterprises and the public service should also take place. Partnerships between universities and private enterprises should pave the way for reskilling through vocational training.
However, as time progresses, there is a risk of the technology becoming more independent. The possibility of a sentient AI is still a long way off, but the foundation exists. But the utilization of new technologies is not necessarily all doom and gloom. There has also been an increase in IT-related employment positions.
CareerJunction’s report also highlighted critical skills gaps across many sectors, including IT, with many employers struggling to fill roles that require specific skills. “This imbalance continues to limit productivity, slow growth, and increase recruitment pressure across multiple sectors,” it said. Regarding skills shortages in the IT sector, CareerJunction highlighted three roles that employers are struggling to fill. The first is database administrators, which are critical for managing and securing complex ICT environments and ensuring business continuity. Software developers are also in high demand as companies continue to invest in system modernisation and automation, and finding suitable candidates is a challenge for many employers.
Lastly, the availability of solutions architects, who are key to designing scalable IT and cloud-based systems, is low compared to the demand for the skill. “Rapid technological change — driven by automation, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms — has shifted employer expectations faster than the workforce can adapt,” CareerJunction said. “As a result, skills gaps are widening rather than narrowing in certain areas.”
The increase in job openings in the IT sector must be filled by qualified tech engineers. IT positions are key to economic growth and the continuity of industrialization. The shortage of skilled labour in the IT sector must be addressed by training and educating individuals in this field. Both the government and the private sector must cooperate to tackle the skills shortage. Companies such as CareerJunction, along with government departments (Trade, Industry, and Competition; Science and Technology), need to build connections and promote IT education and skills training among those interested in the sector and have a talent for it.
To bridge the gap between labour and the IT industry, and to keep pace with the rapid progress of AI and automation, all concerned parties must accelerate skills training. In relation to AI, significant progress must be made in improving training. Regulations and restrictions on the continued development of AI, robotics, and automation will also need to be enforced. Both the government and the private sector must lead the charge to strengthen skills training in IT. Ultimately, the outcome depends on how effectively this issue is addressed.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
