About Data Science
Data Science is a vast field. It has a wide variety of roles all catering to many kinds of stake holders. At the same time dealing with large amount of data is common. Making sense of data and making it usable is what a Data Scientist does. To give you a glimpse following are the roles:
Exploratory Data Scientist; Operational Data Scientists; Product Data Scientist; Marketing Data Scientists; Research Data Scientists; Data Developer; Data Creatives; Data Business People;
The Verdict
Large amount of what a Data Scientist does - is served as input into the current tech that we call as AI - Large Language Model. So we do not foresee any decline in this role for the next 10 years. Since collectively we are going to build many things using AI.
But what about other fields?
AI will reduce jobs across every field, but...
In general across every field AI will reduce jobs. It is good at recognizing patterns and doing things that are done a thousand times over. The technology that we call as "AI" is still artificial. It's not actually intelligent. A huge amount of data is fed into the software. And the output, AI is prediction of what comes next - 1 pixel or 1 word at a time. Both are referred to as token in the world of AI.
So yes it will reduce jobs, but who will suffer? Since it's a complex topic covering this in the next section.
Who will suffer? Is there anything I can do?
People who are highly specialized in their field (5-15 years) will be the one suffering this wave. People who have stayed in 1 company, learnt exactly 1 skill, mastered that skill to an end one may call it stagnation. People who have basic knowledge of many skills will not suffer. Because they can utilize AI to enhance their output.
Companies that are small to medium in size will suffer. For example, an IT firm with 2-5 clients. Since the work that they were delivering collectively can be now done by 1 person now. But for this to happen, freelancers / independent professional will need to come to this realization. Once they realize that they can learn multiple skills. That is when it is troubling for the agencies. This has already happened in the past. There was a time web design was done by companies who called themselves - "Web Design Agencies". But today we see lesser agencies and more freelance web designers. The web design agencies that are doing a successful business today are the ones who are either serving very cheap quality OR they are doing a highly complex WebGL and 3D website. Which still requires additional skill of 3D modelling over traditional web design.
Why do company even prefer specialized roles?
When 1 person can master many skills why do company even prefer specialized roles? Simple answer, this is business.
Long answer - For a business to stay profitable it needs to cut competetion. When it comes to service business you are training your own competetion in the process of making money. An employee who did not know anything about the field before joining now understands many tips and tricks of the trade. Imagine a business training an employee making them proficient in every way. And that employee, starts their own business after 3 years of experience.
Since service business can be started by anyone with very less capital investment. The employees become your competetion. They cannot be trained enough to steal your clients. Thus comes the solution - everyone is only a master of their own trait. Designer only knows design. Developer only knows development. Front end only sees the front end.. And nobody sees the full picture.
So what exactly is going to happen?
The future is actually bright. It's not sad for people who want to work. It is only sad for people who wanted to sit on top of 10 people and yell instructions, and desire to make money off of it. I do not want to demean MBAs but in todays scenario - companies will not hire them. They will hire people who can do and they will take on the role of an MBA since they will be the managing the AI tools. These AI tools will take the place of hard working people and do the heavy lifting.
So it's a great time to be independent designer / developer. Who take the project and utilize enhanved AI tools to finish the job. At the same time it's not that anybody can utilize these AI tools. You need to have some level of proficieny in your field and basic understanding of all the others.
For example, I used to work as a designer, have done that for 5 years. Have done all sorts of projects. Motion Graphics, UX, UI, Social Media, Logo and Branding. But at the same time I have the fundamental understanding of development as well. I have no problem taking on projects utilizing chatGPT wherever I get stuck and modifying AI written code wherever necessary. Individually I am doing work of 3 people. Designer, Front end developer and Back end developer.
Client is happy because he does not have to pay a huge amount to an agency. I am happy because I dont have to work for a manager who is just there to make the most out of me.
Conclusion
There is a massive power shift. This power shift is happening from people who want to lead, to the people who want to work. Which is justice serving itself. I think this is the best time to be alive. So what if the skills that I am using right now can become obsolete? With this much cerebral capacity we can learn a new skill every single day.