74% of IT Pros Fear AI Will Make Their Jobs Obsolete — Are They Right?

AI’s Impact on IT Skills: A Looming Challenge

As AI continues to permeate the IT industry, professionals are increasingly concerned about the potential obsolescence of their skills, reports CIO. A recent Pluralsight survey of 1,200 IT workers and executives in the US and UK reveals that 74% of IT pros fear that AI tools will render many of their daily tasks redundant. Additionally, 69% of respondents worry about being replaced by AI altogether, underscoring the anxiety prevalent in the tech sector.

Organisations Struggle with AI Integration

Despite the concerns, the survey highlights a disconnect between IT workers’ awareness and organisational preparedness. While 96% of IT professionals are actively seeking to update their AI skills to maintain job security, 90% of executives admit they lack a clear understanding of their teams’ AI proficiency. This gap poses a significant challenge for companies aiming to implement effective upskilling and reskilling strategies.

Confidence Amidst Uncertainty

Interestingly, despite the uncertainty, IT professionals remain optimistic about their ability to adapt. According to the survey, 81% of IT workers feel confident in their capacity to integrate AI into their roles, even though only 12% have substantial experience with AI. This confidence aligns with the broader industry belief that AI initiatives will fail without skilled staff who can effectively utilise these emerging tools.

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*An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.