Artificial intelligence has ceased to be an abstract technology from futuristic scenarios and has turned into a working tool for specialists across various fields. Companies worldwide, including Ukrainian ones, are actively seeking ways to implement AI for routine task automation, while the labor market begins adapting to new realities. At the same time, the spread of the technology raises pressing questions: will hiring decrease, which skills will become critical, and which professions will disappear or transform. This was discussed in a blitz interview by Borys Kushniruk, head of the expert-analytical council at the Ukrainian Analytical Center.
Which sectors are already feeling the impact of AI
According to Kushniruk, the list of professions already affected by artificial intelligence is quite broad and continues to expand. First and foremost, these are IT specialists, journalists, lawyers, and representatives of other intellectual fields. IT specialists use AI most actively because they act simultaneously as consumers and developers of such technologies. However, the penetration of AI into related industries has already become noticeable: in law firms, neural networks perform tasks in a matter of minutes that used to take lawyers many hours—analyzing legislation, gathering information, and preparing the groundwork for legal conclusions. At the same time, the expert emphasizes, AI does not completely replace a lawyer: a person must still check the result, sign the conclusion, and participate in negotiations and final decision-making.
Automation and the issue of layoffs
The question of whether automation will lead to mass staff reductions remains one of the most debated topics. Kushniruk acknowledges that in certain areas, AI will indeed take over a portion of routine work. For managers, it already opens up opportunities for more efficient time planning: preparing report bullet points, organizing meetings, booking tickets, and other tasks previously assigned to hired staff can now be delegated to algorithms. At the same time, the expert is optimistic about the prospects for new areas of activity. He draws a historical parallel: when cars appeared, there was a demand for specialists in their repair and maintenance—professions that simply did not exist before. Similar processes, in his opinion, will occur with AI: some professions will disappear or transform, but new employment opportunities, which are hard to imagine today, will emerge in parallel.
The pace of change and psychological factor
Kushniruk draws attention to the fact that the labor market transformation process may happen slower than technological capabilities allow. Psychologically, company leaders find it difficult to let go of workers and restructure established workflows. The level of AI adoption largely depends on the readiness of management in a particular company: even within the same industry, there are organizations that have already realized the technology's potential and those that are not yet ready to use it. This means the transition will be uneven and stretched over time rather than instantaneous.
What skills will help remain competitive
For specialists whose work involves intellectual activity, the key skill becomes the ability to effectively interact with AI models and correctly formulate tasks for them. Kushniruk refers to a well-known principle: a wrongly phrased question leads to a wrong answer. Therefore, productive work with AI requires not only technical skills but also subject-matter expertise, an understanding of context, and the ability to determine what specific outcome is needed. The expert gives an example from analytical practice: when preparing materials, one can ask the model a series of clarifying questions, request evidence for conclusions with specific examples, and adjust formulations. This allows for deeper information processing and stronger argumentation. "A person does not disappear from the workflow. What changes is how efficiently they are able to utilize the potential of artificial intelligence," Kushniruk summarizes.
What professions will be in demand
Predicting the specific names of new professions that will emerge as AI spreads is extremely difficult today. Kushniruk returns once again to the analogy with cars: their inventors could not fully imagine how many specialties would be associated with the maintenance, repair, and development of this technology. Similarly, it is impossible today to foresee all areas of human interaction with artificial intelligence. One thing is obvious: technologies will change the nature of work in most spheres, and those who learn to use AI as a tool to enhance their own competencies will gain a significant competitive advantage in the labor market.
