How to Embrace AI Before It’s Too Late

August 11, 2025 – While artificial intelligence is exciting, its rapid growth is also raising concerns. Recently, the CEO of Anthropic, Dario Amodei, warned that “AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs – and spike unemployment to 10-20 percent in the next one to five years.” Likewise, Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufmann recently cautioned the company’s employees and freelancers: “AI is coming for your jobs … Heck, it’s coming for my job too.” It’s a worrisome prediction, according to a recent report from 180 Engineering. “But, rather than focus on the ways AI might negatively affect your workplace and career, consider this a wake-up call,” the study said. “Instead of viewing AI as a threat, look at it as an opportunity.”

AI is a new frontier – and one that is changing very rapidly, the 180 Engineering report explained. “Currently, it feels like we are at the tip of the AI iceberg, with businesses unsure of how to integrate it and workers unsure of how to utilize it,” it said. “But these very questions powerfully illustrate how to approach the use of AI in the workplace. Those who can adapt, experiment, and upskill will not just survive – but thrive. Once AI is widely integrated, success will no longer hinge on having the most technical expertise or the longest resume. Instead, success will be dependent on approaching AI with curiosity so that you can work effectively with it. As long as you’re willing and able to experiment, learn, upskill, and embrace AI, you can future-proof your career.”

If you don’t already use AI regularly in the workplace, you’ve likely encountered it as it’s been reshaping the way that we work for the past few years with tools like Microsoft Copilot, Grammarly, and Slack’s AI summaries. 180 Engineering noted that in some cases, especially at tech-based companies, employees don’t just have access to AI tools – they are already required to use them. According to a recent report from CNBC, Shopify, Fiverr, and Duolingo expect their employees to integrate AI into their everyday work processes. Co-founder and CEO Tobias Lütke of Shopify, for instance, sent out a company-wide memo in April 2025 that said:

Using AI effectively is now a fundamental expectation of everyone at Shopify. It’s a tool of all trades today, and will only grow in importance. Frankly, I don’t think it’s feasible to opt out of learning the skill of applying AI in your craft; you are welcome to try, but I want to be honest, I cannot see this working out today, and definitely not tomorrow.

“AI offers incredible value to businesses in terms of streamlining processes, improving communication and collaboration, increasing efficiency and productivity, reducing errors, and enhancing decision-making, among its many other possible uses,” the 180 Engineering report said. “It can, for example, even optimize office space use by hybrid teams. In short, AI offers a way for businesses to maximize productivity and profit – and businesses are going to embrace that opportunity.”

But to embrace AI, companies need teams that are willing to learn and experiment with the software, the 180 Engineering report noted. “They need teams that are creative and adaptable,” the talent solutions provider said. “It’s important to recognize that AI isn’t just changing what people work on – it’s transforming how they work too. Daily tasks like manual reporting processes, data visualization, document drafting, and coding suggestions can all be done in mere seconds by AI. The work that we do, the way we do it, and how we manage our time are all going to change.”

How To Start Embracing AI – Right Now

While you may need to be an expert to develop AI tools, 180 Engineering explained that you don’t have to be an expert to use them. Learning to use and integrate AI tools into your workflow can usually be done through experimentation, practice, and strategic thought.

Experiment Daily

“The best way to learn how to use AI tools and to become comfortable with them is through experimentation,” the report said. “Start by identifying repetitive or time-consuming tasks in your workflow and then try using different AI tools to see if they can improve your efficiency and/or accuracy.”

The AI Adoption Curve in Executive Search

AI is no longer a distant concept for executive search firms—it’s a fast-evolving tool reshaping how leaders find leaders. In a recent Hunt Scanlon Media webinar, top consultants from NU Advisory Partners, Bespoke Partners, and Accelent offered a candid look at how AI is transforming their workflows, from candidate research to strategic decision-making. Their discussion revealed not only the momentum of adoption, but also the cultural and ethical guardrails necessary to harness AI responsibly in a relationship-driven industry.

There are several AI tools available for desk-based work. 180 Engineering said that among the most highly-recommended are:

• ChatGPT for summarizing documents, writing project updates and communications, and brainstorming ideas;
• Claude for more nuanced or in-depth tasks like analyzing contracts or drafting reports; and,
• Notion AI for tracking daily productivity, transcribing meetings, and automating repetitive tasks.

Develop A Personal AI Strategy

As you’re identifying ways that AI can help streamline your workflow and testing out ideas with various AI platforms, develop a personal AI strategy – that is, a plan to consistently use AI for certain tasks. To develop that strategy, 180 Engineering said to ask yourself:

• Where are bottlenecks in my workflow?
• What low-value tasks could AI handle for me?
• How can I use AI to enhance the work I do, rather than expecting AI to do the task for me?

“You don’t need to embrace AI wholeheartedly from the get-go; you can start small,” the report said. “As you gain expertise and learn about AI’s potential for your role, you can expand your use of the tools. But even a small amount of time saved can be reinvested into creative problem-solving, collaboration, or upskilling.”

Related: AI in Executive Search: Evolving the Practice

It’s undeniable that AI will reshape the way we work. But, there are some human skills that it just can’t replicate, according to the 180 Engineering report. “And, as we learn how to harness the potential of AI, some skills will become more important than ever, including creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and leadership,” the study said. “AI can analyze data but it can’t inspire a team, navigate ambiguity, or think outside of the box. Your soft skills are what will make you irreplaceable in the workplace. And when you combine those soft skills with the power of AI tools, magic can happen.”

Upskill Before You’re Left Behind

Recruiters also say that AI is evolving very quickly, and businesses are eager to tap into its potential. “Taking charge of your own upskilling is a terrific way to ensure that you develop the needed skills and remain competitive,” 180 Engineering said. “While you can learn a lot about AI just by experimenting with it, you can also increase your AI fluency through coursework. Many online resources are geared towards people without technical expertise, many are free, and most allow you to work at your own pace.” Some of the most highly-regarded training resources include:

• Google’s AI for Everyone, which provides a beginner-friendly overview of AI use in the workplace;
• AI for Everyone by Andrew Ng, which is offered through Coursera, and covers the basics of AI and its practical applications; and,
• Hundreds of free courses on edX that examine specific uses for AI.

What Employers Are Really Looking For

AI is already being implemented in workplaces across all sectors, and employers are already looking for workers who are fluent with AI tools. 180 Engineering explained that it will become increasingly important to demonstrate your proficiency with AI, whether in your current role or during job interviews.

In addition, the report noted that while general knowledge of different AI tools is important, companies are looking for employees who have the ability to creatively use AI. In particular, companies want to see employees:

• Proactively suggest new AI-driven workflows;
• Take initiative in reducing costs by using AI to increase their efficiency; and,
• Willingly take on continuous learning with AI tools to leverage them.

“Be prepared to speak confidently in interviews and performance reviews about how you’ve learned and implemented AI,” the 180 Engineering report said. “Employers will appreciate knowing about specific outcomes achieved through the use of AI tools, such as reducing predicted turnaround by a measurable number of days or increasing your free time by a verifiable number of hours, along with details about how you’ve used that free time.”

“The pace of AI development has been truly astonishing,” the 180 Engineering report concluded. “Businesses are quickly learning that harnessing AI tools can have a significant impact on ROI. It’s inevitable that AI will be widely adopted across all sectors. The fears of AI replacing human workers are likely exaggerated. AI can’t replace people. But it’s possible that your employer will replace you with someone more adept with AI.”

Related: Hunt Scanlon to Host Conferences in New York City and London on AI

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media