AI in Business: Is Job Security at Risk?

Andrew Lloyd , Managing Director at Search Acumen, says:

Talk of AI taking jobs isn’t unfounded. Whilst an administrator may no longer be needed thanks to technology, it also means creating new roles like technology officers to manage, train and adapt business systems on a near constant basis.

Knowing what AI tools to use, when and by whom, is no easy task, however. AI fatigue from big, corporate, ambitious and complicated executions, along with muddled deployment, is becoming more widespread. But the risk of staying still is far greater than we think.

Some sectors, like law, have found the shift to an AI world more challenging than others due to their traditionally analogue practices.

With agentic AI on the horizon, presenting another leap for AI technology and what it can do for businesses, how many organisations will be ready?

Whilst we know professional learning has always been part of career paths, to hire, retain and keep talent, AI needs to be embedded as a core part of this training. Formalised qualifications, modules and workshops will send clear signals to your staff: we want to learn and stay competitive.

And for business leaders who remember a time before the internet, it is essential to learn how technology can enhance productivity and accuracy, keeping the bottom line healthy and supporting their own job security.

Adapting to new technologies will become as essential a skill as proficiency in Microsoft Office is today.

Why lifelong learning is business critical

So, what does this mean for professionals and organisations? It means lifelong learning isn’t optional: it’s business critical.

Every new type of technology and tool will introduce new responsibilities and threats to a business. Today’s professionals need digital literacy, data privacy awareness, and a strong grasp of tech ethics to ensure AI-driven decisions are fair and unbiased; that sensitive data in an era of cyber threats is protected; and that outputs from AI are genuine and not hallucinations.

These are now daily realities and organisations must encourage professional development to keep pace with them. It’s about more than ticking boxes for CPD credits. It’s about future-proofing careers and organisations.

The consequence of ignoring the importance of professional learning is stark. Competitors will dominate with increased efficiency, client satisfaction and even with better compliance. By the time an organisation rolls out the training or hires new staff to even begin catching up, the gap will be widening exponentially.

Lifelong learning isn’t just about growth. It’s a safeguard against obsolescence.

Choosing the right technology

There has been an 85% increase in AI companies over the past two years, according to the AI sector study from the government published in September.

So, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the number of tools, what they do, and where to find them, you have good reason.

Adopting AI is not just about becoming tech literate either – it is about figuring out the right subscriptions to use that work for your business model.

This is key to ensuring you are not paying for overlapping or unnecessary tools, where subscription costs today can feel exponential if not tracked and managed properly.

I work with many of the UK’s top law firms and the message I give when talking about digitalisation journeys is often ‘lose subscriptions not people’. In many instances, you only need one AI partner who can do it all, who is updating the technology for you, and keeping you at the top of your game.

Talk to them about measuring productivity and enhancing workflows together, as true partners of your business.

Insights from the legal world

It is evident to me when talking to lawyers that professional learning is a challenge across the industry, thanks to its deep roots in tradition and increased pressures to digitise.

While AI can never replace the trust, empathy and leadership which will remain irreplaceable and essential to the practice of law, AI has already reshaped some aspects of legal work in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago – even outperforming humans in certain repetitive tasks.

Routine tasks like document drafting, contract analysis and legal research are increasingly automated, while e-disclosure platforms can sift through millions of documents in seconds, identifying patterns and anomalies that would take humans weeks to uncover.

AI-powered tools are now even capable of predicting case outcomes based on historical data, helping lawyers advise clients with greater confidence.

The question isn’t whether lawyers should use AI: it’s clear that it’s efficiency gains make a genuine difference to productivity and cost efficiencies. The question is now how quickly the current and future generations of lawyers can adapt to what comes next.

To use new tools and technologies to their full potential – responsibly and strategically – lawyers need to understand how they work.

Foremost is understanding that AI doesn’t ‘think’ like a human. It predicts patterns based on data, which means it can produce errors if the underlying data is flawed or if the prompt is ambiguous. It can also perpetuate bias if trained on biased datasets.

That’s why human oversight is non-negotiable for ethics and accuracy, whilst tech is also non-negotiable for speed and knowledge.

The world is evolving, and clients will expect not just their lawyers, but all professional services to evolve, too.

Practical strategies for lifelong learning

So how do individuals and organisations make lifelong learning part of everyday work?

Learning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, and neither should it be shoe-horned in by HR teams. Organisations should embed continuous learning into their culture, offering structured development plans, access to training resources, and time for employees to upskill.

Companies that invest in learning create teams that are more resilient, innovative, and ready for the future.

Here’s how professionals – and the organisations that employ them – can make learning part of everyday work:

Invest in structured learning: Enroll in CPD programmes or professional courses that focus on technology and innovation. Many industries now offer modules on AI, cybersecurity and digital transformation. Third-party technology partners often provide CPD-accredited training designed to help professionals build confidence with emerging tools while earning development hours.

Stay connected to new ideas: Attend webinars, conferences and workshops to hear from experts and see how others are applying technology in practice. This will help you sift the best tools from an ever-expanding AI market.

Join professional communities: Networking groups and online forums are great spaces to share experiences, ask questions and learn from peers navigating similar challenges.

Keep your knowledge fresh: Subscribe to industry journals, newsletters and podcasts that cover trends in tech and professional development.

Learn collaboratively: Partner with tech-savvy colleagues or mentors. Peer learning often makes complex topics easier to understand and apply.

The key is consistency, not perfection. AI and digital tools are evolving fast, and they’re shaping every profession, from law to healthcare to finance.

Surviving the AI boom isn’t about knowing everything, it’s knowing how to keep learning. The AI tools that will be bubble proof tomorrow are those that are rolled out methodically, linked closely to continuous training, and regularly measured and adapted to productivity benefits.