{"id":1122,"date":"2019-12-16T18:59:59","date_gmt":"2019-12-16T18:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbc.com\/en\/tl\/to-beat-the-robots-you-just-need-the-skill-and-will-to-learn\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T15:15:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T15:15:16","slug":"to-beat-the-robots-you-just-need-the-skill-and-will-to-learn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbc.com\/en\/thought-leadership\/skills-and-post-secondary\/to-beat-the-robots-you-just-need-the-skill-and-will-to-learn\/","title":{"rendered":"To beat the robots, you just need the skill and will to learn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSkills and Post Secondary\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTo beat the robots, you just need the skill and will to learn\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tAs the shelf life of tech skills shortens, human skills will be needed to thrive in a AI-powered economy.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In other words, no need for that AI flu vaccine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a new Gallup survey for Northeastern University<\/a>, 61% of Canadians and 71% of Americans think artificial intelligence will eliminate more jobs than it creates. Roughly half of those respondents think AI will also decrease the number of good jobs out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the vast majority also think they’re immune to automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite a general concern about the impact of AI, only 37% of Canadians and 17% of Americans think their<\/em> job will be eliminated because of smart technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gallup results were presented at a recent Future of Work discussion at Northeastern’s Toronto campus, put on by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and RBC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helena Gottschling, RBC’s global head of human resources, told the forum that in financial services, automation is leading to new and different jobs \u2013 and a changing mix of skills \u2013 which means an ever-growing need for lifelong learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than half of RBC’s 55,000 Canadian employees are enrolled in a digital learning<\/a> program, often offered in the form of mobile and modular programs for skills ranging from digital troubleshooting to communications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Gallup survey, 92% of Canadians (and 95% of Americans) said they want some form of ongoing learning through their careers \u2013 not surprising given that two thirds of them worry their skills will be outdated within a decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite those worries, few know what skills they’ll need to thrive in an AI-powered economy, but there was strong agreement across Canada, the U.S. and Britain that people will need so-called soft skills<\/a> like teamwork, communication, creativity and critical thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gottschling agreed with that assessment, saying \u201cthe shelf life of tech skills will be shorter, while the shelf life of human skills will be just as long.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A greater concern in the study was a lack of confidence in universities — for Canadians as well as American and Britons \u2013 to prepare graduates for the jobs of tomorrow<\/a>. A rating of high confidence was lowest (3%) in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A plurality of respondents viewed employers as best-equipped to provide career-long education and training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gottschling said most employees need solutions that are affordable, time-efficient and relevant to their ambitions. And then there’s mindset. Do people have the will and skill to learn?<\/p>\n