In today's rapidly evolving job market, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about significant changes in the way we work. With automation becoming more prevalent, many workers fear the possibility of job loss.

These fears are certainly not unfounded. A 2017 McKinsey report projected that AI could displace roughly 15% of workers, or 400 million people, worldwide by 2030. Under a more aggressive projection, McKinsey estimates that number could climb to 800 million displaced workers in a worst-case scenario.

There are some projections that AI could also create more jobs than it displaces. According to a 2020 report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), automation and AI will have displaced 85 million jobs globally by 2025, all while creating 97 million new jobs in industries such as data analysis, AI development, and content creation.

According to Unbreakable Media , AI will particularly impact jobs in the areas of Customer Service, Data Analysis, Healthcare, Marketing, and Manufacturing. (Check out their post titled "Stay Ahead of the Curve: Strategies for 5 Job Areas that will Be Affected by AI in the Workplace" for some strategy ideas if you are in one of these fields.)

Regardless of which job projections come to pass, the AI-driven workplace will require workers to become more than they are today.

When my children were growing up, I used to love watching them look at a personal hero of theirs (whether an actor, artist, musician, athlete, or professional video gamer) in admiration and exclaim, "I wish I could be like that!"

As a father, I usually took these moments as an opportunity to challenge them to become better versions of themselves every day. "If you want to be more, then you've got to become more," I often told them. To their chagrin, this sounded too much like hard work.

The lesson for my children was this: to become like their idol, they had to develop the skills and experience pertinent for that role. I would explain that this might take years of training and practice. Becoming more requires hard work and persistence! It's a life-long commitment, whether you are a student or a worker.

While AI may be reshaping the job market in challenging ways, employees must proactively strive to become more in order to stay ahead of the curve. Here are 9 ways that you can do just that!

By understanding how AI is impacting different job areas and proactively adapting to these changes, individuals can position themselves for success in the evolving job market. Embracing lifelong learning, developing new skills, and staying informed about AI trends are essential steps to thrive in the age of artificial intelligence.