Artificial intelligence is in its early stages and many jobs will be under threat as companies chase competitiveness, with labour being among their highest expenses, an AI expert said.

Patrick Dicks, of The Dicks Consulting Group, is a “prominent figure in discussions surrounding automation and AI” and has been featured on nearly all major television networks in the United States.

Dr Dicks told The Royal Gazette in a video interview: “You haven’t seen anything yet, once they get AI on-board with these data centres and they are able to really harness the power.”

He urged those in jobs that can be marginalised by the march of technology to begin upskilling as soon as possible.

McKinsey & Company says the rise of data and connectivity, analytics, human-machine interaction, and improvements in robotics are the disruptive trends that will drive the next phase in the digitisation of the manufacturing sector.

It is termed Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution.

Dr Dicks said the global pandemic that propelled the work-from-home revolution, was the ideal opportunity for employers to determine what jobs can be replaced with technology.

He said common observation over the years reveals how jobs are being replaced, including financial services jobs like those found in Bermuda.

He argues artificial intelligence has been around since the 1950s and automation has been around since before the first recorded Olympic Games (776BC).

He said: “I recommend everybody get some foundational research so they can eventually move into this realm. There are courses on Coursera, Microsoft and Google that give you a foundational resource.”

He said people are being misled by not being told that there are resources to help them prepare for the coming changes with new education and new skills.

He said: “Everybody can be a part of the fourth industrial revolution and get one of these new jobs that are going to be created.”

Dr Dicks has a Doctor of Science in Information Systems and Communications from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a Master of Business Administration with an Emphasis in Information Technology Management from Webster University in Columbia, South Carolina, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from South Carolina State University.

The adjunct professor in the College of Professional Studies at Syracuse University teaches undergraduate and graduate classes in multiple fields ranging from database design and software architecture, to operational analytics and cloud computing. He has also redesigned several classes for more real-world applications.

With domestic and international teachings, Dr Dicks has also created and redesigned several classes to meet accreditation and National Security Agency guidelines.