Microsoft conducted research to identify which professions are already experiencing the time-saving benefits of AI, revealing key opportunities for professionals across Africa, writes Ola Williams, country manager, Microsoft Nigeria.
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AI at work is a reality today and it is transforming the way we spend our time. Nearly 60 percent of businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa anticipate that expanding digital access will significantly influence their business strategies between 2025 and 2030.
Across the continent, AI and information processing technologies are expected to have the most profound impact.
It’s incredible to think that the global job market is set to grow by 78 million jobs by 2030, with technological advancements helping lead the way.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) highlights that the fastest-growing roles will be those driven by tech innovations like AI, robotics, and digital access.
At the top of the list of the fastest-growing jobs are positions such as Big Data Specialists, FinTech Engineers, AI and Machine Learning Specialists, and Software and Applications Developers.
AI is also already being used in various sectors across Africa, including agriculture, healthcare, and education, to enhance productivity and efficiency.
More recently, AI tools have progressed from merely improving efficiency to supporting decision-making and creativity.
While some professions might experience a more gradual impact from incorporating AI into their routines, research from Microsoft has highlighted which professions globally are already reaping the benefits of AI and where the greatest opportunities for professionals across the continent lie.
AI is making these jobs easier, faster, and better
According to the research, two main things are driving major improvement – the type of work people do and the amount of data they use.
Jobs that involve lots of data, like analysing customer information, are seeing the biggest improvements from AI.
Employees dealing with Cybersecurity, Product Development, Sales, Tech Support, Marketing and Public Relations have been first to witness how AI enhances their daily tasks, offers opportunities for innovation, reduces repetitive work, and enables more informed and therefore faster decision making.
Cybersecurity, Sales, Business Development, and Marketing and Communications among top five
Today’s growing cyber threats need constant attention and prompt reactions. AI helps by analysing lots of data, spotting patterns, and finding problems in real-time. This lets IT and cybersecurity experts focus on planning and reacting to threats faster.
AI can also automate tasks like monitoring threats and handling initial incidents, freeing up experts for more complex investigations and solutions.
For Sales building strong relationships and closing deals are key for success. AI is transforming sales by quickly analysing customer data and personalising emails.
This helps salespeople focus on important tasks and spend more time building relationships with potential clients. Customer service agents use AI to streamline interactions, resolve inquiries more efficiently, and improve overall customer satisfaction.
The companies that have implemented AI chatbots say that it efficiently handles routine inquiries, therefore freeing up agents for complex cases.
In Marketing and PR, AI helps find new trends and opportunities by analysing large amounts of data. It can speed up tasks like checking SEO trends, drafting content, doing market research, and planning product launches.
AI also shows how stories are received in the media, saving time and letting PR professionals focus on their creative work, ensuring the final product has a human touch.
AI becomes our favourite assistant
By using AI in the workplace, professionals are building new skillsets, but also new habits. Work Trend Index Report, a joint report from Microsoft and LinkedIn, revealed that global use of GenAI doubled between 2023 and 2024, with three out of four people already using AI at work. In Africa, use of GenAI is projected to grow significantly, reaching a market size of almost $9 billion by 2030.
Some jobs are seeing great time savings thanks to tools like Microsoft Copilot, with 90 percent of users globally reporting this benefit. Previous research from Microsoft has also shown that employees in African companies working a lot with AI, feel that the technology will make their work more meaningful and enjoyable.
At the same time, Work Trend Index underlined the LinkedIn trend, with 142x increase in LinkedIn members globally adding AI skills like ChatGPT and Copilot to their profiles.
Over half of young people included in research pointed out that new technologies are vital to their career decisions.
This is to such a significant degree in Africa that more than half of employees say they would change their minds about seeking out a new job if their current employer invested in new technology like automation.
Using company AI tools enhances security
Tools like Microsoft Copilot are shaking up productivity, letting people work more efficiently and freeing up time for creative and strategic tasks.
But though African leaders recognise AI’s crucial role in driving growth and resilience, many organisations still don’t have solid AI strategies in place.
This gap often forces employees to use personal AI tools, which can lead to security and privacy issues. As AI keeps transforming industries, we need to rethink our approach to technology, aiming to unlock its full potential for creating business value.
It’s essential for companies to roll out standardised, enterprise-ready AI tools and provide thorough training to make sure their use is both secure and effective.
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