Byrd-Hill introduced the concept of the “new-collar” worker — professionals who sit between
traditional blue-collar and white-collar roles, combining hands-on technical skills with emerging
technologies such as AI, including cybersecurity and data analytics.
Due to the rapid advancements in AI, new-collar workers learn best through on-the-job training, according to Byrd-Hill. This enables them to meet the speed and efficiency that AI delivers with the necessary guidance and validation to ensure accurate outputs. Without these types of employees, organizations risk costly errors, missed opportunities, and poor ROI, which can lead to AI divestment.