For those who worry about AI (and technology in general), sounding the death knell of careers as we know it, it is worth considering the limitations of AI before concluding that we will all be replaced. Yes, AI can number crunch better than any human, but there’s no accounting for empathy.

Contractors and gut feelings

Contractors bring experience that can not be gleaned from an internet search (even if this involves reading everything online). Some professional situations require judgement calls that can only be made with knowledge, experience and a gut feeling. For those who have been contracting for a number of years, quite often this has touched upon a multitude of industries, connecting with professionals from varied backgrounds and this is where empathy enters the equation…and you really see the limits of AI. The most successful contractors we have seen are great at building relationships. This is not something AI can mimic or learn and an experienced contractor has built this skill over years and across projects and industries.

JCBs and Ferraris

Technological advances have helped improve the lives of millions, but embedding AI into your business processes still requires some human input. We see this in IT and project management a lot – organisations buy technology that promises great things, but if poorly implemented, it can wreak havoc. IT contractors are often successful on project implementations, where a software is embedded into an organisation and requires a steady hand to guide the process while maintaining a helicopter view of the organisation and ensuring the software is following the needs of the organisation. I think we have all heard stories of IT projects going wrong….

Welding a JCB to a Ferrari doesn’t make a machine that can dig roads at 200 mph. It makes something that can’t do either job properly.– Dave Trott, Predatory Thinking

If you are worried about AI and the future, we can’t help you. But we can help you navigate your way through the financial aspects of the contracting process. From establishing a company, helping you understand your finances and plan for the future – we are here to help.

Here to support your future success

If you are interested in joining the hundreds of female contractors, but you’re not sure where to start, talk to us. We have been supporting contractors for over 20 years, ensuring you maximise the money you make, letting you focus on what you do best! Schedule a call with our team at a time and date that suits you.

We hope you’ll join our community of female contractors Women in Contracting LinkedIn Group here*. We hope you will find it helpful.

*This is a community for women or people who identify as female. Please note, where we reference women or females, we include people who identify as female.