How to Become Indispensable Using AI

Having better coding copilots doesn’t mean we need fewer engineers, fewer data scientists, or that the skillset required today is any less demanding. Infact, it’s quite the opposite. If you’re a data scientist in 2024, here’s how you should be thinking about upskilling and using AI to elevate your career: 1️⃣ Use AI tools for your win: AI isn’t here to replace you; it’s here to make your life easier. Learn to leverage tools like Copilot to automate the boring stuff—so you can focus on the fun, challenging parts of the job. Think of it like having a really smart assistant that gives you a head start, not a crutch. 2️⃣Stay Curious About the “Why” Behind the Models: Just because AI can help you code faster doesn’t mean it can make the key decisions for you. It’s your job to understand why a model works the way it does, why certain data behaves a certain way, and what the implications are. The deeper you understand the tech, the more valuable you become. Most importantly, it is for you to understand how and when you will built AI applications that has an ROI. 3️⃣ Be the Voice of Responsible AI: AI is powerful, but it can also introduce bias or unintended consequences. In 2024, being the person who understands both the technology and the ethical side of AI is crucial. AI regulations are catching up quickly, and it’s important to stay informed. Whether you’re working with personal data or building models that impact people’s lives, understanding the legal landscape will ensure you’re on the right side of innovation. 4️⃣ Be the implementer: Data Scientst role is slowly evolving to be more engineering inorder to do from ML to MLOps (some LLMOps), so you should think about scalability, distributed computing, cloud architecture, and more. 5️⃣ Never Stop Learning: AI and data science are evolving at lightning speed. The only way to stay ahead is to keep learning. Models will keep changing, open-source will keep growing, toolkits will evolve- even though you don't need to everything, knowing what exists and what capabilities are supported is still very valuable.

Everyone who is afraid of losing their job to AI needs to read this. Your ability to complete tasks isn’t what makes you valuable anymore. Because AI can do the tasks. But that doesn't mean you don't have value -- you just need to re-conceptualize your value. Bc humans (for now) are responsible for directing AI. We're shifting from being the drivers of efficiency to becoming arbiters of effectiveness. Not: "Are we doing enough?" But: "Are we doing what actually matters?" And that requires three key skills: 1️⃣ Systems Thinking AI is great at answering questions. But are you asking the right ones? Can you connect dots across disciplines? Can you see second-order consequences? Can you conceptualize how actions will affect the organization or the system? 2️⃣ Critical Thinking AI can generate information, but can you evaluate it? Do you question your assumptions and biases (and AI's assumptions/biases)? Do you cross-check ideas with others? 3️⃣ Communication AI can draft an email, but can it ensure people actually understand each other? Do people often misunderstand you? Can you get buy-in from others with persuasion? Are you checking for alignment in conversations? “Here’s what I heard you say—did I get that right?” “How did you interpret what I just said? I want to make sure we’re on the same page.” If you can think critically, navigate complexity, and communicate effectively, AI won’t replace you. It will make you indispensable. What skills do you think will matter most in an AI-driven world?

How to position yourself for success in an AI-driven workforce (practical strategies that actually work) The pros who will thrive in the next decade aren’t fighting AI. They’re making themselves essential to how AI gets used and succeeds. Here’s how to become that person: - Become an AI translator. Help your company figure out what tasks should be automated and what still needs a human touch. That skill alone makes you indispensable. - Get good at prompt engineering. Knowing how to talk to AI and get the best results is quickly becoming a must-have skill. Early adopters get a big edge. - Focus on relationship-driven work. AI can’t build real relationships, negotiate deals, or bring emotional intelligence. Double down on leadership, client management, and stakeholder engagement. - Master data interpretation, not collection. AI handles data gathering perfectly. You bring the business context and make smart calls with incomplete info. - Specialize in creative problem-solving. AI sticks to patterns. Breakthrough ideas come from challenging the norm, that’s where your value shines. - Become your industry’s AI implementation specialist. Learn the tools, train your team, and optimize AI workflows to become the go-to expert. The bottom line: Your career security depends on being vital to AI’s success, not avoiding it. The winners will be those who use AI to boost their uniquely human strengths. Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://vist.ly/45g4s #ai #futureofwork #careeradvice #careerstrategy #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #professionaldevelopment