Generative AI and work

#8.1The changing nature of work

You may picture yourself as a physician, lawyer, teacher, or policy advisor. But what do the latest AI developments mean for the way you will collaborate, make decisions, or be held accountable? AI's role is not limited to a single field or profession. As a student, you are developing skills for the job market, but it is also important to learn to reflect critically on the role you yourself can play in the design, deployment, and oversight of AI systems within your future profession. Whether you become an engineer, policymaker, or care professional: your decisions will help determine how AI is used - or misused.

AI changes the nature of work not only through automation, but also by creating new roles and ways of working. So, while some jobs will disappear, new ones will also emerge—ones we can’t always predict. This has also been the case throughout history with major innovations such as the introduction of the printing press, the computer, and the internet. According to McKinsey (2023) by 2030, a significant share of routine cognitive and physical tasks will have been automated. But at the same time, new professions are emerging that require collaboration with AI, such as an AI prompt specialist, an ethical designer, or a data curator.

Generative AI plays an important role in this. While traditional automation mainly replaces repetitive tasks, generative AI systems enable people to create content independently, make creative suggestions, and even provide policy support. Think of AI that helps HR staff write job postings, lawyers who use AI to analyze case law, or healthcare professionals who use AI to summarize patient records.

Changes in work processes are at least as important as job titles. AI changes how we communicate, plan, decide, and collaborate. Work is therefore becoming hybrid: part human, part machine. This calls for new skills such as critical thinking, AI literacy, and digital ethics (McAfee & Brynjolfsson, 2017)

#8.2AI in different sectors: from healthcare to journalism

The impact of AI differs by sector. In journalism, AI can summarize news or write personalized articles. In the legal system, AI analyzes thousands of case files to discover patterns. In medicine, AI helps with diagnoses based on imaging. In the construction sector, AI-driven drones and robots can carry out inspections or generate models.

In higher education, you already see applications in which AI functions as a tutor, evaluates draft reports, or helps students formulate research questions. In the creative sector, collaborations are emerging between humans and AI for designing campaigns, music, or even architecture.

Listening tip: do you want to hear more about the opportunities and limitations of AI in medical practice? Listen to the podcast De Technoloog from BNR, episode: AI in healthcare: breakthrough or overrated (episode 430, 2024). Professor Henk Marquering discusses how AI is already being used in diagnostics, what it actually delivers, and why regulation is crucial.

#8.3Socioeconomic impact: inequality

AI changes not only how we work, but also what work means. If some tasks disappear, questions arise about income security, social status, and ownership of labor. And a digital divide emerges.

Who benefits from AI? Large companies with a lot of data, or also small and medium-sized businesses and freelancers? And what does that mean for the distribution of wealth? AI can disrupt economic models: think of platform economies that restructure entire professions, or 'data dividend' models in which citizens are compensated for the use of their data (Sadowski, 2019). These shifts have direct consequences for social inequality, labor rights, and democratic legitimacy. Moreover, ethical tensions are arising around access to AI-supported jobs. What if only people with the right digital or language skills can succeed in an AI era? What does that mean for diversity and inclusion in the workplace?

That is why there are international initiatives advocating for an 'AI Bill of Rights,' which sets out fundamental rights and obligations around AI. You, as a future professional and citizen, also have a role in this as a co-architect of the AI future. The questions of who develops, deploys, and controls AI touch on broader power structures in society. In the next chapter, we therefore explore how AI is becoming intertwined with politics, media, business, and public values — and what that means for you as a critical citizen.

#8.4How do you keep up? Strategies for staying informed about AI

AI is one of the fastest-developing fields of our time. Knowledge that is current now may be outdated in two years. That is why it is important to train yourself in ongoing curiosity. Follow the news in professional journals and news programs and join networks where AI discussions are taking place.

Online platforms such as arXiv, Medium, LinkedIn, or Substack also offer accessible analyses of the latest trends, often written by researchers themselves. Do not forget the AI forums at your own university or student association either: more and more programs are integrating AI events and interdisciplinary projects. Keeping up with developments in AI is not a luxury, but a necessity. AI affects legislation, policymaking, technological standards, and public values. Those who stay informed also stay resilient. The skills to understand, evaluate, and use AI responsibly are becoming indispensable in virtually every profession.