AI Prompts Are Important, But…

In 1997, AI defeated Garry Kasparov, the grandmaster. In 1998, Kasparov introduced advanced chess to the world, where human players use a computer chess program to explore candidate moves while the human controls and makes the final decisions throughout the game.

What unfolded in the chess community is now happening on a grand scale across various fields.

Image Credit: Getty Images DigitalVision Vectors | Moor Studio

The Enduring Skills in the Age of AI

A few years ago, artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionized the business world. The media heralded new careers on the horizon, such as prompt engineer. The topic of prompting skills and job replacement has risen to prominence and continues to be prevalent.

However, these conversations often overshadow the critical role of durable skills, commonly known as soft skills. These skills, resilient to technological disruptions, are indispensable for effectively utilizing AI. Durable skills encompass a spectrum of abilities, including critical thinking, communication, and adaptability.

Technical skills can become outdated with new innovations, but durable skills evolve and adapt, enabling individuals to navigate complex and dynamic environments. These skills are essential for effective problem-solving, decision-making, and interpersonal interactions, forming the bedrock of professional competence.

Durable skills

Some of the skills in this skillset are domain general.

For example, communication skills or human skills are transferable across domains.

If you are good at making small talk, telling stories, reading the room, and leading a team, it is likely that you will bring these qualities to the table wherever you go.

Other skills, like critical thinking, are domain specific.

These require familiarity with the field, the ability to judge based on specific criteria, and a self-correcting approach (Lipman, 2023). The decision-making process, built upon specific frameworks or professional standards, makes this skill domain specific. For example, you can be critical in marketing while knowing next to nothing about real estate because these two fields rely on different concepts and knowledge.

In the age of AI, where information is seemingly available at our fingertips, you may not always know if the generated information is trustworthy and reliable. The challenge here is to build expertise to make good judgments and create value in your work.

Without Expertise, AI Can Mislead

The ability to judge and compare sources of information is critical and does not come naturally. It requires rigorous training and practice to become familiar with a specific field. In other words, one must be an expert to wield AI power effectively. This is true in any business context. Finding the right environment to grow and obtaining guidance and feedback from a mentor who will help you develop and excel is essential.

Another skill that experts must hone is lateral reading, a practice emphasized by the Civic Online Reasoning (COR). Lateral reading involves verifying information by cross-checking multiple sources. This initiative provides strategies for evaluating online information, particularly aimed at helping students and professionals navigate the complexities of the digital information landscape.

Professional proficiency and lateral reading skills will enable you to be critical when working with AI. If you lack knowledge of marketing literature, how can you trust AI’s advice on marketing strategies? Similarly, if your understanding of cybersecurity is minimal, you will not grasp what AI explains about encryption or phishing. Sure, AI gurus out there will say that you can ask AI to simplify or analogize its responses, you still cannot be certain that the information is correct, or the analogy is valid.

Conclusion

Collaborating with machines and embracing AI is inevitable. Even Kasparov believes that pairing a human with a computer in chess would easily beat a chess machine. However, he also warned that the outcome depends on the qualifications of the operator (Mercatus Center, 2017). AI generates a vast array of content for us to wade through, much like candidate moves in a computer chess program. Without becoming a human grandmaster in your field, you are unlikely to effectively leverage AI’s capabilities to ensure the best outcomes.

Reference

Digital Inquiry Group. (n.d.). About Civic Online Reasoning. Civic Online Reasoning. https://cor.inquirygroup.org/about/

Lipman, M. (2003). Thinking in education. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Mercatus Center (2017). Garry Kasparov on AI, Chess, and the Future of Creativity (Ep. 22). Medium. https://medium.com/conversations-with-tyler/garry-kasparov-tyler-cowen-chess-iq-ai-putin-3bf28baf4dba

Key Takeaways

Durable Skills Are Crucial: While AI and technical skills are important, durable skills like critical thinking and effective communication remain essential and resilient against technological changes.
Expertise Enhances AI Use: To effectively leverage AI, one must develop expertise in their field and be adept at critical evaluation and lateral reading.
AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement: AI should complement human skills and expertise rather than replace them. Effective use of AI depends on the operator’s qualifications and understanding.

about the author

Asst. Prof. Dr. Vasa Buraphadeja

Vasa Buraphadeja is an Assistant Professor at MSME Business School, specializing in technology integration into teaching and learning. He directs the Center for Learning Innovation, focusing on enhancing teaching through technology. His research includes influential publications on content analysis and critical thinking in computer-mediated communication.