Top Roles in Big Tech That are Less Likely to be Impacted by AI

The AI-driven transformation in the job market has emerged as a prominent topic of conversation, spurred by numerous trends and buzz.

Approximately 85 million jobs around the world are currently facing the looming threat of automation, which could render them obsolete by the year 2025.

A recent report from Goldman Sachs puts forth an estimation that generative AI might impact as many as 300 million jobs, hinting at the potential automation of 18% of the global workforce. The impact is expected to be more pronounced in advanced economies, weighing more heavily on them compared to emerging markets.

However, while AI holds the potential to automate specific tasks and revolutionize industries, there still exists a plethora of roles—especially in Big Tech—that remain beyond the grasp of AI’s capabilities.

Let’s talk about them.

Types of Jobs That AI Can’t Replace

There are distinct categories of jobs in the tech industry that artificial intelligence (AI) can’t possibly replicate due to their complexity and intrinsic human qualities like creativity, empathy, and critical thinking. Broadly, we can classify them in 4 categories:

1. Jobs that demand authentic human connection and empathetic understanding
2. Professions involving an interplay of creativity, imagination, and visionary thinking
3. Roles that rely on human intuition and the ability to critically analyze information
4. Jobs that require high levels of emotional intelligence and intuitive understanding

Top Tech Jobs that are Less Likely to be Impacted by AI

1. High-Level Scientists and Analysts

Business decisions are no laughing matter. They demand comprehensive analysis, understanding, and critical thinking. While AI can process and analyze substantial volumes of data (it can even offer ideas and inspiration), it falls short in emulating the human approach to decision-making. We still need humans to make accurate interpretations.

For example, tools like ChatGPT or GPT-4 can assist in automating specific cybersecurity tasks, such as identifying and addressing security incidents. However, they cannot replace the indispensable role cybersecurity analysts play with their critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic decision-making.

Similarly, while AI can enhance the capabilities of risk analysts, it cannot entirely replace the necessity for human expertise in these pivotal domains. You’d still need skilled risk analysts to weigh ethical considerations, assess potential impacts on stakeholders, and evaluate situations with emotional intelligence and judgment.

The same goes for data scientists who must navigate the intricacies of data, develop innovative algorithms, and make decisions based on nuanced insights. These tasks require a unique blend of domain knowledge, technical prowess, and human judgment that AI cannot replicate.

The bottom line is that the analysis of intricate data sets and the extraction of meaningful insights call for human intuition and expertise to formulate hypotheses, interpret findings, and arrive at informed decisions. So, while AI can aid in data processing and analysis, the elements of creativity, intuition, and scientific discernment required for groundbreaking discoveries remain uniquely human. 

In fact, as AI technology continues to advance, new roles will emerge to develop, implement, and maintain AI systems. There will be an increasing demand for professionals skilled in areas such as data analysis, machine learning, AI ethics, and algorithm design.

Organizations will need individuals to supervise AI systems, ensure ethical considerations, and make strategic decisions based on insights derived from AI.

So, it’s safe to say that the following jobs are in no immediate danger from AI:

• Data Scientists
• AI/Machine Learning Engineer
• Cybersecurity Analyst
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Risk Analysts
• Quantitative Analyst (Quant)

2. Software Programming and Development Roles

The journey of creating a comprehensive software product involves several stages. It begins with gathering requirements for various features, defining success metrics for those features, and making decisions about the system’s architecture, while considering the optimal tools to utilize.

AI can handle coding to a certain extent, such as writing short command-line programs and basic code, but it falls short when it comes to creating intricate and complex coding. They can not build intuitive user interfaces which require creativity and a nuanced understanding of human behavior.

Nor can they effectively, say, decide the right databases to power a system or translate business tasks into functional code—both of which require intuitive, empathetic, and strategic decision-making. Then there is the task of managing collaboration across different teams to work towards a unified goal, which adds an extra layer of complexity.

So, while AI tools can provide programmers valuable assistance, they cannot entirely replace them. 

However, to remain on the safe side, it’s crucial to work on upgrading your skills and technical abilities. This involves understanding clients’ and businesses’ requirements, debugging code, planning software functionality, identifying and rectifying errors, testing the software, and refining it based on user feedback.

These are tasks that AI cannot effectively accomplish. So, programmers can remain secure by enhancing their skills and outperforming computers at their own game.

For now, the following jobs in software programming and development cannot be easily replaced by AI:

• DevOps Engineer
• Embedded Systems Engineer
• Software Developers
• iOS Engineer
• Front-end Engineers
• Backend Engineers
• Full Stack Developer
• User Experience (UX) Designer

At Prepfully, we have interview guides with detailed steps for each role at majority of companies in the big tech. For instance, if you are a trying to crack the Google Software Engineer Interview, you can go through the interview guide and acquaint yourself with the whole process of the interview. You also have the option to schedule a mock interview with somebody who’s previously cracked the role/have worked in the same roles/has been a hiring manager.

3. Leadership and Management Roles

Managers and leaders within the tech industry play a pivotal role in analyzing market trends, navigating competitive landscapes, and formulating long-term business strategies. Their decisions involve a meticulous weighing of multiple variables, assessing risks, and making choices that harmonize with the organization’s objectives and values.

This intricate process demands emotional intelligence, necessitating an adept balance between unbiased decision-making and the overarching welfare of the company—a responsibility that cannot be entrusted solely to AI.

While AI can be useful for tasks like scheduling and task management, the purview of managers extends to overseeing the entire project lifecycle, encompassing planning, budgeting, and resource allocation. 

For instance, consider a Google Product Manager who not only ensures timely development but also aligns the product roadmap with market demands. Similarly, Technical Program Managers at Google orchestrate complex projects, ensuring seamless collaboration among diverse teams, a task that involves a nuanced understanding of human dynamics.

Their roles also encompass resolving disagreements within teams and guiding cross-functional departments to work collectively to achieve common goals. These proficiencies demand a blend of human intuition, creativity, and expertise—qualities that AI, such as ChatGPT, GPT-4, Bard, and others, would take a long time and evolution (maybe even help from these very professionals) to develop and ready-to-use. 

This extends to the following roles:

• Engineering Manager
• Product Manager (PM)
• Technical Program Manager (TPM)
• Technical Account Manager (TAM)
• Product Marketing Manager
• Technical Lead
• Principal Software Engineer
• Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
• IT Director of Operations
• Project Managers

4. HR and Talent Acquisition Roles

Within the tech industry, there are specific roles in human resources and talent acquisition that remain immune to AI’s capabilities. HR professionals oversee numerous facets of employee management, encompassing recruitment, training, conflict resolution, and employee well-being.

Their role demands empathy, an understanding of human dynamics, and the ability to make subjective judgments based on individual circumstances. So, this includes the roles of hiring managers, technical recruiters, employee relations managers, and so on.

Conclusion

While AI may lead to the elimination of certain jobs, it also holds the potential to create novel job opportunities and enhance existing roles. If you’re seeking to upgrade your skill set or exploring a career path that remains beyond the reach of automation, we suggest considering the above job roles.