Workers must learn to work with robots to future-proof their careers, according to a top AI professor. The UK workforce must develop skills that keep pace with technological change, so that it can work effectively alongside AI and machines, according to Dr Evy Sakellariou.
Dr Sakellariou, Associate Professor and Gen AI Innovation lead for Kingston University’s Foresight, Creativity and Future of Work Research Hub, suggests it means the end of ‘human-led AI’. Instead, teenagers preparing to enter the workforce could soon find themselves taking on an unexpected role: helping their bosses keep up with AI.
New research shows younger, AI-savvy workers may be key to fixing a growing skills gap among senior staff, according to a study by Publicis Media UK working with Kingston University London.
View 3 ImagesIf employees don’t have the right skills required for evolving AI-enabled jobs, individual productivity could fall by 24.6%. Without action, the cost is set to almost double by 2030, putting even more pressure on companies to rethink who drives profit. Research conducted by Kingston University shows that with the rise of AI, three capabilities, described as fusion skills, have become essential as professionals increasingly work alongside AI systems.
Dr Sakellariou says employees will need to develop advanced fusion skills to work with AI and machines, alongside core human-centric skills. These fusion skills include smart AI questioning, asking better questions to get more useful, reliable outputs. It also includes contextual AI training – teaching AI how your business works – and critical human judgement, including making the call on when to rely on AI and when to step in.
Niel Bornman, CEO of Publicis Connected Media UK, said: “AI is changing how advertising works, that’s clear, but people are still our biggest advantage. It’s human creativity, collaboration and judgement that give our industry its economic value and turn technology into something useful.
“If we want AI to make a genuine difference, we have to invest in those people working alongside it. That isn’t optional, it’s essential if we want a strong, competitive industry that today’s workforce believes in and the next generation wants to be part of.”
Dr Evy Sakellariou said: “We’re no longer talking about human-led AI, but how people can work effectively alongside machines. To do this, all employees will need to develop these advanced fusion skills alongside core human-centric skills.
View 3 Images“Our work with sector leaders revealed real enthusiasm for these technologies, but also uncertainty about how best to upskill the workforce. Our research sets out a series of key recommendations including shifting to skills-first hiring and promotion pathways, investing in lifelong learning and reskilling and prioritising fusion skills development for senior leaders and middle managers so they can effectively reshape and adapt their business.”
Sonya Barlow, career expert and author of The New Rules of Networking, said: “Many see AI as a challenge, but it can be the great equaliser – everyone is starting from point zero. AI is also reshaping workplace dynamics. Younger professionals are often more native to the digital landscape, meaning they are increasingly the ones experimenting with tools, testing use cases and sharing what works. “In many organisations, that is creating a shift where learning flows both ways, with junior employees helping to upskill more senior colleagues.
Article continues below
“That culture of shared learning encourages innovation, so organisations should create space to experiment with new tools and exchange best practice. The professionals who progress will be those open to exploring AI in their day-to-day work and taking initiative to apply it in practical ways.”