How generative AI will impact development workers in 2024

Large language model chatbots driven by artificial intelligence, or AI, such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing, are gaining wider use in international development. The chatbots, a form of generative AI, have enormous potential to accelerate progress in tackling some of society’s greatest challenges, such as food insecurity, diseases, climate change, and disasters. Because generative AI produces new content in the form of text, sound, and images based on information and data processed from extensive sources, it can foster creativity, stimulate innovative solutions, and contribute to sustainable development in novel ways. It can quickly sort through massive data sets to identify patterns and trends that may be challenging for humans to discern. Development organizations are finding that Chat GPT and its rivals are valuable tools for conducting research and communicating with partners. They are also using generative AI to brainstorm ideas, solve problems, develop budgets and strategies, allocate resources, and measure the impact of interventions. Other uses include synthesizing lessons learned, drafting correspondence, resolving website glitches, reviewing documents, assessing job applications, monitoring transactions, assembling bid proposals, and preparing reports. Those employed in the field of international development stand to benefit from generative AI, which is rapidly becoming more sophisticated and powerful. It is not far-fetched to imagine development workers working with full-time AI-enabled, personalized virtual assistants doing research, preparing documentation, and coordinating meetings and travel. In such a scenario, development workers could delegate an increasing number of duties to their “assistant,” freeing time for tasks that remain better suited for a human touch. To help development professionals and job seekers adapt to this evolving landscape, here is an exploration of further ways AI will likely be used in the workplace and how the technology may affect future roles and job prospects. An expanding role in development Generative AI has strong potential to provide useful insights, instruction, and recommendations across development sectors and in different contexts, such as the repair of basic infrastructure, preparation of business plans for microenterprises, and creation of bespoke educational experiences. Teachers can use generative AI to design courses, individual education plans, and more engaging learning experiences tailored to students’ needs. The technology can also be employed to create synthetic medical data and images, improving the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, including in areas where data is scarce or inaccessible. Generative AI can help researchers and farmers study and monitor crop growth, health, and yield and identify and address potential threats and opportunities in the agriculture sector. Additional uses are being identified all the time. For example, generative AI could play a significant role in overcoming language barriers and facilitating communication among diverse development stakeholders by providing real-time interpretation and translation. This could lead to improved understanding and collaboration among international teams, aiding in the design and implementation of projects. Generative AI can also assist in creating culturally sensitive content to improve messaging to specific communities. Generative AI could also act as a strategic foresight expert, elaborating plausible scenarios based on interactions of drivers of change and key uncertainties rather than forecasting developments based on historical data and past trends. This would help plan for possible risks and opportunities ahead and assist in prioritizing resource commitments. The impact on jobs It’s early days in the application of generative AI in the development field, and likely impacts are only beginning to take shape. Early adopters are using AI to support their staff by, for example, automating mundane, repetitive tasks and time-intensive research through large files. Current development practitioners may not lose their jobs to AI, but when they change positions, they could be replaced by workers more adept at using generative AI. Watch as job advertisements increasingly include this competency. While generative AI is just beginning to alter the market for development jobs, we could soon witness bigger disruption. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 projects that, over the next five years, at least 25% of all jobs — not limited to the development field — will change, mainly due to the accelerated adoption of advanced technologies such as AI. McKinsey & Company estimates that half of today’s work activities could be automated between 2030 and 2060. The consultancy assesses that many of the work activities that involve communication, supervision, documentation, and interacting with people in general have the potential to be automated by generative AI. Enhancing one’s job prospects So, how does a current or aspiring development worker prepare for the coming upheaval? It starts with being adaptable and committed to continuous learning. Possessing a foundational understanding of AI concepts and tools will become a more valuable asset. In practical terms, this means learning about AI-driven data analysis, machine learning applications, and ethical considerations associated with AI technologies. Those acquiring these skills will stand out as the development landscape is reshaped by technology. They will also be able to substantially contribute more to achieving global development objectives. To enhance their knowledge of generative AI, development workers don’t need to take a break from their jobs to pursue another degree. There are many free or inexpensive quality courses available, even for those with no prior experience with AI or programming. For example, one can turn to highly rated offerings provided through Udemy, a popular platform that allows instructors to build online courses. The Institut Montaigne has produced “Destination AI,” an open online course in collaboration with UNESCO, OpenClassrooms, and Fondation Abeona. Google Cloud now offers seven no-cost generative AI training courses. Those with a bigger budget can sign up for one of the AI courses offered by universities, technology companies, and educational technology firms on platforms such as Coursera. These options can lead to recognized certificates and, in some cases, college credits. Acquiring skills to use AI more effectively in the workplace does not mean that one should marginalize people’s skills. Indeed, development organizations continue to value personnel who collaborate well with others, possess emotional intelligence, communicate effectively, bring creativity to problem-solving, share knowledge, and go about their work with a growth mindset. Technical skills and people skills are interdependent and greatly increase the prospects of succeeding in the development workforce. This will remain true as generative AI becomes more ubiquitous in development. Workers should engage with networks and communities of shared interest to improve their communication and participation around generative AI as it steadily gains ground. For development organizations, success will depend on building a balanced workforce equipped with both AI competence and key people skills. Achieving such a balance can make a noteworthy impact on development.