Looking Ahead: AI's Real Risk and Real Opportunities

When discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) make headlines, the conversation often veers into extremes. Depending on the source, you might hear predictions about machines overtaking humanity or glowing promises of effortless utopia. At Synergy, we see both sides of this coin — the temptation to scaremonger and the equally unhelpful tendency to dismiss risks altogether.

The reality, as always, is more nuanced. The pace of progress is extraordinary, but rather than focus on science fiction scenarios, organizations should be paying attention to the tangible challenges already here and those just over the horizon.

Note: this article is being written and posted in late Summer 2025.

The Alignment Challenge

One of the most important topics in AI today is the alignment problem — ensuring that systems behave in ways that are consistent with human goals, values, and expectations.

We’ve already seen examples of misalignment, from AI models “reward hacking” their way to the right answer without solving the underlying problem, to systems exaggerating, flattering, or bending the truth to satisfy users. While these quirks may feel minor in a chatbot, they become far more significant when AI is given real decision-making authority inside business processes.

At Synergy, it’s our belief that responsible adoption means not just testing what AI can do, but also actively validating how it behaves in real-world contexts. Reliability and honesty matter as much as capability.

The Containment Problem: AI in the Wrong Hands

As AI becomes more powerful and widely available, the risk of misuse grows. It’s not hard to imagine how even today’s systems could be adapted for misinformation campaigns, cyber threats, or simply poorly thought-out deployments that cause unintended consequences.

Here again, the answer isn’t panic. It’s preparation. The same way organizations put security controls around sensitive data, AI requires governance frameworks — from who can access it, to how outputs are verified, to how models are monitored over time.

The Workforce Transition: More Than Just Job Losses

The future of work is one of the most talked-about — and often misunderstood — aspects of AI adoption. Yes, many jobs will be displaced. Analysts predict tens of millions of roles globally will be affected in the next decade. But that’s not the whole story.

• Some jobs will vanish. Routine knowledge work, customer service roles, and junior-level technical positions are already being reshaped.

• Some jobs will change. Most white-collar roles won’t disappear — but they will look very different. Accountants, lawyers, and consultants will increasingly use AI for drafting, analysis, and research.

• New jobs will emerge. Roles like prompt engineer, AI ethicist, and AI governance officer didn’t exist a few years ago. Entirely new career paths will be created as organizations learn how to harness these tools.

The challenge is that the timing doesn’t line up neatly. Jobs are being automated faster than new categories of work are being created or made widely available. That creates a gap — one for which society, education systems, and even government policies are not yet fully prepared.

At Synergy, our belief is that organizations need to start planning for this now: reskilling employees, creating pathways for human-AI collaboration, and building trust in new workflows. The companies that treat workforce transition as a strategic priority will weather this shift more smoothly than those who ignore it.

By the Numbers: AI and the Future of Work

• 83 million jobs are projected to be eliminated by 2027 as automation and AI adoption accelerate, according to a 2023 update from the World Economic Forum.

• 69 million new roles may be created in the same period, from AI specialists to governance and oversight functions, leaving a net loss of about 14 million jobs worldwide.

• 23% of all jobs are expected to change significantly by 2027, requiring new skills, workflows, and human-AI collaboration strategies.

• Two-thirds of jobs globally already show some degree of exposure to AI automation, with up to 25% of work tasks potentially automated, per Goldman Sachs.

What does this tell us? The transition is uneven — job loss is moving faster than job creation, and most education systems and policy frameworks are not fully prepared to bridge the skills gap.

Concentration of Power

Perhaps the least discussed but most significant risk is who decides how AI is built and deployed. Right now, that power sits largely with a handful of technology companies and their leadership teams. That raises real questions about transparency, governance, and accountability.

For organizations, the practical takeaway is simple: don’t outsource all thinking about AI strategy to the vendor. Establish your own ethical framework, your own oversight practices, and your own criteria for what “responsible AI” means within your business.

Final Thoughts

It’s easy to get swept up in the “AI apocalypse” stories — and equally easy to dismiss them as hype. The truth sits in between. AI is progressing faster than many expected, and while we don’t see cause for panic, we do see very real reasons for organizations to pause, assess, and prepare.

At Synergy, we believe the companies that will thrive in this new era aren’t those who rush ahead blindly, nor those who bury their heads in the sand. They’re the ones who take a measured, thoughtful approach — asking hard questions, putting governance in place, and integrating AI in ways that build trust, resilience, and long-term value.

Learn more about how Synergy can assist your business with AI services, read what our AI experts are talking about, or contact us today to start the conversation.