AI is Getting Smarter: Two Emerging Project Management Careers

According to an article published in Scientific American, ChatGPT scored 155 on an IQ test. This has a significant impact on career trajectories, if not employment itself. Although AI technology only has two capabilities, prediction and classification, it is the creative minds of people that continue to drive its development. For those starting their careers or repositioning for the future, two emerging areas are important opportunities.

1) AI Ethics and Governance Manager. As AI is deployed in all areas of organizations, specialists will be needed to oversee how these systems are used and to ensure they operate responsibly. This role includes a review of implementation, ongoing oversight of the process, from data usage to results analysis, and establishing response plans for breaches which could have internal and public implications. These issues can have serious operational, legal, and public-trust implications. Essential skills: learn how AI works, understand the field of explainable AI, and be knowledgeable about business and regulatory aspects of deployment.

2) AI-Driven Change Leader. Beyond becoming pervasive in enterprises, the speed of AI and scale of adoption will accelerate. Any new technology requires successful deployment, but AI will be more disruptive and require more emphasis on managing the change. Implementing AI is a project, so project management skills, combined with a strong understanding of change management processes, are essential for this role.

As organizations adopt AI, the most durable career opportunities will center on managing the consequences rather than building the algorithms themselves. Roles focused on AI ethics and governance are essential to ensure responsible deployment, accountability, and trust. At the same time, strong change management capabilities are critical to help organizations manage change and translate AI investments into real value. These are opportunities where human judgment, oversight, and leadership will matter most in an AI-enabled future.