A group of local scholars shared an exciting peek at “The Future of Work” at the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s recent State of Workforce and Talent event at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center.

“What we’re observing is that this is not just a moment in time like, ‘OK, it’s a new form of technology,’” retired Microsoft executive Sean Alexander said of machine learning during a private meeting that preceded the main event. “…We are witnessing a moment which is going to eclipse the advent of the computer and the advent of the Internet in terms of the ability to drive business productivity, greater work-life balance, greater connection between employers and their employees.”

Alexander, former principal director at Microsoft AI, oversaw a small-group presentation before participating in the signature program in front of an audience of nearly 400 people.

His fellow panelists were keynote speaker Mike Mathews, Oral Roberts University’s vice president for global learning and innovation, along with Dr. Jerrid Freeman, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at Northeastern State University.

“I used to love the day when I could hire people who were just satisfied with their salary,” Mathews said during his keynote. “… But that is not the world that we find ourselves in today. It’s much, much different than that.

“So, we need to understand that the current and future workforce screams and cheers for innovation in a customizable time.”

Computing capability underwent a 37 million percent increase from 2015 to 2022, a transformation that today allows developers to “literally run thousands of years, or epochs, of simulation in the system in a single day,” Alexander said during the private meeting.

He later told the larger audience that 40% to 50% of productivity can be gained in the workplace by using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT.

AI will not be a job-killer, Mathews said.

“It’s never happened,” he said. “…In fact, if you study technology, you will find out that everyone who uses technology actually grows the human resource and they grow their revenue.”

He cited statistics from Amazon, which despite its large use of robots, has grown its workforce from about 80,000 in 2013 to roughly 1.6 million today.

“If I’m called to do what I’m called to do and I’m good at what I do, I will be in the right place at the right time,” Mathews said.

Freeman, who led efforts to start an Esports program at NSU, said high schools and colleges around the country are getting involved in Esports, with even scholarships tied to the discipline.

He added that top-level gamers make around $350,000 annually.

“People are gaming at a young age,” Freeman said. “Oftentimes, you see a 5-year-old beating the snot out of their 30-year-old parent. They have the ability to do these things. It’s a different type of intelligence, in my mind.

“…You think about gaming in general. You are learning sequences. You are learning about strategy. You are learning how to manipulate the program. That’s gaming. The fact that there are other players in there who start to change the game. It’s life.”