Dr. Sreeram Mullankandy, MBBS, MBA, is the director of Product Management and Clinical Quality at Elumina Health.
The conversation around AI has shifted dramatically. We’re no longer debating if AI will transform knowledge work; we’re witnessing how it’s already happening. As a health tech executive, I’ve observed this transformation firsthand, and the evidence is compelling: AI isn’t just coming for white-collar jobs; it’s already at the table and helping itself to a generous portion.
Real-World Impact: My Observations From The Front Lines
In our health tech organization, we implemented an AI-based data extraction system to manage the thousands of faxes we receive from physician offices and payers. The results were striking: What previously required 10 staff members will now need only seven, and the AI’s accuracy continues to improve beyond human capability. This 30% reduction in workforce needs for a specific function is our new operational reality.
The story doesn’t end there. When developing a mini accounting module for our product, we initially followed the traditional path—gathering requirements, planning architecture and making incremental progress. Frustrated with the pace, I experimented with an AI agent, providing it with our requirements and asking it to leverage best practices. Within 10 to 15 minutes, we had a working prototype that delivered 80% of our needs. The demand for product managers, business analysts and even developers is going to shrink.
Perhaps most telling, operating in the highly regulated health tech sector typically requires specialized knowledge about compliance, approvals and certifications. In minutes, Claude or ChatGPT can accomplish what would have previously demanded a regulatory specialist or weeks of intern research. I’ve found that the detailed reports these systems generate often exceed human-produced work in comprehensiveness and accuracy, which could effectively eliminate many entry-level research positions in the future.
The Scale Of Disruption
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei told Axios that AI could wipe out 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs. A 2020 World Economic Forum report predicted that 85 million jobs would be displaced by 2025 due to the shift in labor division between humans and machines.
A 2017 McKinsey & Company report estimated that approximately 30% of activities in 60% of occupations could be automated. The impact is already being felt; in 2023, IBM announced plans to pause hiring for roles that AI could replace, potentially affecting tens of thousands of positions.
Survival Strategies In The AI Era
The question isn’t whether to prepare for this shift but how to position yourself as AI reshapes the professional landscape. Drawing parallels to previous technological revolutions offers valuable insights:
1. Become An Expert AI User And Interpreter
The most immediate opportunity lies in mastering AI tools and becoming the bridge between these powerful systems and business needs. This means:
• Developing prompt engineering skills to effectively direct AI systems.
• Learning to validate, contextualize and enhance AI-generated outputs.
• Becoming proficient at integrating multiple AI tools into cohesive workflows.
• Building expertise in recognizing when AI solutions are appropriate and when human judgment remains essential.
Those who can harness AI to multiply their productivity in their domain will remain valuable, just as those who quickly adapted to computers and software in previous decades maintained their relevance.
2. Join The Builders And Implementers
Become part of the ecosystem that creates, deploys and maintains these AI systems. This includes:
• Developing specialized knowledge in AI implementation for specific domains (like healthcare).
• Building expertise in AI ethics, governance and compliance.
• Focusing on the human elements that complement AI capabilities.
• Creating the infrastructure that enables AI to operate effectively.
As AI deployment shows us more and more productivity gains, more and more companies will go after it. The demand for these skills will only grow. If you can’t resist them, join them.
3. Cultivate Uniquely Human Capabilities
Double down on capabilities that remain distinctly human. This encompasses:
• Complex problem-solving that requires multidisciplinary thinking.
• Emotional intelligence and relationship building.
• Creative synthesis across disparate domains.
• Ethical decision making and values-based leadership.
It’s easier said than done, but the most successful professionals will combine technical AI literacy with these deeply human capabilities, creating value at the intersection of both.
Embracing The Inevitable
The AI revolution is already reshaping our professional landscape with unprecedented speed. Those who cling to traditional approaches to knowledge work should expect to increasingly find themselves competing against systems that are faster, more consistent and continuously improving.
The path forward isn’t resistance but strategic adaptation. By becoming skilled AI collaborators, contributing to the AI ecosystem or focusing on uniquely human capabilities, we can transform this technological disruption from an existential threat into a powerful catalyst for professional evolution.
The debate truly is over. AI is going to eat your lunch—unless you learn to cook with it.
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