Why Learning New Skills Is No Longer Optional
Getting with advance skills is necessary to survive in this world
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Those days are gone when specialization in a single domain was considered a guarantee of high earnings or long-term success. We have now entered the era of information technology, where the flow of information is so instant and robust that it has penetrated our lives in one form or another.
For example, have you ever seen a job advertisement that explicitly mentions proficiency in operating WhatsApp? Most likely, never. Yet, it has become a mandatory skill, as communication and daily dealings. from lower staff to top management, are largely conducted through it. WhatsApp was originally developed by computer science graduates, but today its utility is universal. Almost everyone is expected to know how to use it, regardless of their profession.
The same applies to platforms like Uber and Careem. How many of us are unaware of them? Probably none. Is knowing how to use Uber or Careem a formal job requirement, or has it simply become a part of our everyday life that we must understand? The answer is clear, it has seamlessly integrated into our routine. This pattern shows how certain knowledge areas may not seem essential today but eventually become unavoidable.
Similarly, many new knowledge bases are being developed on a daily basis. At present, they may appear irrelevant to some professions, but sooner or later, they may become the next WhatsApp or Uber for us. Artificial Intelligence is a prime example. Once confined to computer science classrooms, its utility is now universal and felt everywhere. Consciously or unconsciously, many of us use tools like ChatGPT for various purposes. In fact, without realizing it, many have become prompt engineers with no formal effort or training. This is the true marvel of information technology.
With every technological advancement, we are being upskilled automatically to stay relevant in society. However, the real question is: what if we consciously integrate these advanced technologies and deliberately develop skills for our own benefit? By doing so, we can use AI and other emerging tools to become more efficient, more productive, and more impactful.
For this to happen, we must first get comfortable with these technologies. We need to learn them with discipline and intent so that we can identify the areas where they can be implemented effectively for a greater purpose. This era is indeed unusual and fast-moving. It demands that we remain cautious, alert, and adaptable to every new advancement. Otherwise, when the world fully adopts a new order or change, we may not even realize when we were left behind.