In a working world increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence (AI), its effects are becoming apparent across industries. During a winter school at MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® titled “An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence,” students were challenged to investigate the possible impact of AI on future jobs and vocational education and training (VET) across five different sectors: agriculture, education, healthcare, manufacturing, and tourism. We showcase five scenarios in the selected key industries, developed by the students at the MCI winter school. These personas and scenarios not only reflect the potential transformations in various sectors but also underscore the importance of integrating AI knowledge and skills into the workforce. Join us on a journey through these narratives, where we envision how AI significantly shapes jobs and consequently vocational education and training (VET).
1. From Traditional Farming to AI-Enhanced Agriculture
John, 65, is a farmer, living in a rural area of Greece. John has great knowledge and expertise in crop cultivation and animal husbandry. Having worked on his farm since his early twenties, John has formed a strong connection with his land and the nature around him. For the last decades, John relied on traditional farming tools and methods for his work, but as time passed and he became older, he welcomed every innovation that could ease his workload. Recently, John has been facing a challenging pest infestation in his corn crop. After the consultation of an agricultural sales representative, John makes use of a new technology: AI-powered drones. These sophisticated drones, equipped with multispectral cameras, monitor his fields and enable early pest detection. This technology not only empowers John to target infestations effectively but also helps him manage the pest problem, all while reducing the environmental impact. This shift towards AI-driven agriculture signifies a major transition from traditional farming practices and methods to a scenario where integrating AI systems becomes as essential as knowing the land. Farmers like John are becoming increasingly proficient at leveraging AI in their farms to maximize their yields. This transformation in the agriculture industry is expected to become a reality in the next 3–5 years. This change is not just altering agricultural practices but also redefining the skill sets required in farming. Training in the implementation of sensors, data interpretation, and AI technologies like drone operations is essential to effectively utilize these new forms of AI technology. For John, this journey into AI agriculture is both a challenge and an opportunity, a chance to blend his lifelong experience with the efficiencies of modern technology, ensuring his farm’s sustainability and his own continued growth in an ever-evolving sector.
2. Education 4.0: Personalized Learning with AI
In a small town in Croatia, Emily, a dedicated 35-year-old teacher, steps into her classroom at the local primary school. The school is known for being a leader in implementing innovative approaches into teaching. With over a decade of experience, Emily has always been passionate about bringing creativity into her classroom to make learning fun. The recent integration of AI in her teaching methods has taken this passion to a new level. Emily’s day starts with logging into the school’s AI-enabled teacher platform, which supports her in understanding the individual learning patterns of her students. The platform analyzes their performance data, enabling Emily to customize her teaching strategies for each child. Take Sarah, for instance, a girl who is struggling with the topic of multiplication. Emily uses AI-recommended interactive tools that turn mathematical concepts like multiplication into visual learning blocks. As Sarah interacts with these blocks, her understanding of the topic improves. Then there is Jake, a student who solves complex math problems with ease. Thanks to the AI tools that Emily uses during her teaching, she is able to provide Jake with more advanced problem-solving exercises recommended by the AI system. These challenges keep him intellectually stimulated and engaged during school hours. The AI tools do not replace Emily’s role of a teacher, instead, they assist her in teaching and connecting with her students and making sure their needs are being met. This approach to education is rapidly becoming a reality in Croatia and beyond. While the implementation of AI in education is still evolving, its potential for enhancing learning experiences is clear. For Emily, integrating AI in education has required training in digital literacy skills and adapting to the use of new technology. She collaborates with these tools, not only integrating AI into her lessons but also teaching her students how to utilize them. All of this shapes a new future of learning.
3. Surgical Precision Enhanced – A Leap into AI-Assisted Healthcare
Dr. John is a 60-year-old surgeon, who works at a central surgery center in the middle of Amsterdam. With over twenty years of work experience, he is an expert in his field. Working at a leading medical facility of the Netherlands, he likes to think of himself as being traditional but still open-minded regarding technology, combining his expert medical knowledge with a keen interest in technology. Dr. John has been one of the first surgeons in the Netherlands to integrate AI into surgical procedures, because he likes to try every new technology, he can get his hands on. However, his utilization of AI tools for virtual reality-simulated training are only the first steps in his vision of a healthcare system of tomorrow. He envisions a future where AI not only assists surgeons but actively supports in decision-making processes, improving surgical accuracy and results for patients. The integration of AI into healthcare, particularly in surgery, presents the chance for minimizing errors during procedures and safe lives. For professionals like Dr. John who are dedicated to what they are doing, keeping up to date with technological advancements is no longer a choice but a necessity. In his opinion, VET in the healthcare sector must prioritize technology during learning, equipping future medical practitioners with the skills needed to effectively utilize AI tools and software. He also emphasizes the need for proficiency in technology use, including AI. VET programs should cover software introductions and collaboration with AI systems, ensuring future medical professionals are prepared for AI’s role in healthcare. This prepares them for a healthcare landscape where AI serves as an assistant rather than just a tool. While Dr. John currently views AI as a crucial learning tool, utilizing AI-supported simulations for training, he envisions a near future where AI aids decision-making in surgery. Looking further into the future, he anticipates AI potentially replacing some human tasks, although he stresses the importance of human oversight.
4. The AI-Enhanced Future of Factory Maintenance
Claudia is an experienced 58-year-old maintenance technician, who works at a state-of-the-art factory located in Munich, Germany. Her daily tasks at the company involve supervising machines, doing maintenance work, and repairing the machines if needed. With the recent integration of AI into the maintenance department, Claudia has witnessed a significant change in her responsibilities. Claudia’s daily responsibilities now include the supervision of advanced machinery, maintenance, and predictive repairs. Her days are now largely spent utilizing AI tools that predict equipment malfunctions before they occur. Advanced sensors and networking systems that engage with machine learning and data mining are used for predictive maintenance to predict failures and the need for maintenance. Furthermore, deep learning-based algorithms enable quick problem solving and accurately locating the source of the malfunction. The implementation of AI into maintenance has drastically reduced downtime and operational costs, while simultaneously improving product quality, leading to more efficiency while AI assists technicians like Claudia. Moreover, this workplace transformation goes beyond operational improvements. Claudia and her colleagues now need a deeper understanding of AI tools and networked systems to be able to engage efficiently with the AI tools. Skills required for engaging with the new tools include proficiency in AI tools, analytical judgment, programming fundamentals, adaptability, and soft skills. When Claudia looks into the future, she envisions a manufacturing landscape where AI-driven maintenance is the norm, highlighting a significant shift in the industry.
5. Streamlining Travel Logistics with AI
Meet Rodrigo, who is a 25-year-old travel agent from Valencia. Rodrigo has a master’s degree in Tourism Management and a clear mission in his job: he wants to make his clients’ travel experiences unforgettable. For the first years on his job, Rodrigo faced many challenges in his daily tasks. He had to manually book hotel accommodations for his clients, purchase travel insurance, manage check-ins, and schedule transportation. These duties cost him a lot of nerves and time. However, all of this has changed since the adoption of AI in the tourism sector. Various AI tools turn complex travel logistics into streamlined processes. For Rodrigo and his colleagues, this means they can now effortlessly book hotels, acquire suitable insurance policies, automate check-in processes, and arrange optimal transportation. These technological advancements not only enhance the travel agency’s operations but also immensely improve the overall customer experience, offering travelers both convenience and peace of mind. Nevertheless, the integration of AI into travel logistics necessitates a new set of skills and adaptability from travel agents. It requires mastery of AI-driven software, an understanding of database systems, and the ability to leverage these tools to create tailor-made travel experiences. Additionally, the demand for exceptional soft skills has intensified, with agents like Rodrigo required to blend technological proficiency with a personal touch, ensuring client satisfaction and providing them with a seamless and memorable travel experience. Rodrigo now uses different AI tools daily, and he can’t imagine working without them anymore.
Conclusion
These five scenarios of John, Emily, Dr. John, Claudia, and Rodrigo illustrate how AI might influence the daily routine of many jobs in the future. This emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning and adaptability, as workers across industries continuously need to update their skills as technology advances. As we stand on the brink of a new digital age, the call to action for educators, policymakers, and industry leaders is clear: to clear pathways that prepare the workforce for an AI-integrative future. The AI4VET4AI project is happy to be part of this venture by designing innovative educational content and methodologies for vocational training curriculums across 11 European countries and 18 EU-NUTS2 regions, aiming to support and strengthen the training of professionals in the field of Artificial Intelligence within the EU.
