AI’s growing influence on roles in finance, marketing, legal, and operations — and what employers need to do now.

AI Is No Longer Just for Engineers

When we think about artificial intelligence in the workplace, our minds often go straight to data scientists, software developers, or machine learning engineers. But in 2025, the biggest shifts are happening in roles not traditionally associated with tech. From marketing and finance to legal and HR, AI is reshaping how non-technical professionals work, learn, and contribute value.

And for employers, this means rethinking not only who they hire — but how they support and upskill their teams.

The Shift: How AI Is Being Used in Non-Technical Roles

AI has moved from niche to necessity. Tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot are now embedded across departments — automating repetitive tasks, uncovering insights, and even helping professionals make more strategic decisions.

Let’s look at a few examples:

• Finance: AI is helping analysts generate predictive financial models, automate reconciliations, and detect fraud patterns faster than ever.
• Marketing: Content generation, campaign analysis, and customer segmentation are being accelerated by AI-driven platforms — freeing teams to focus on strategy and creative direction.
• Legal: AI tools can now assist with document review, contract drafting, and even risk assessment, reducing manual workload in compliance-heavy environments.
• Operations & Admin: From AI scheduling assistants to automated reporting, support roles are evolving from task execution to process optimisation.

New Skills Are Emerging — Fast

Non-technical professionals don’t need to become coders — but they do need to become AI-literate. In 2025, successful candidates in non-tech roles increasingly bring:

• AI fluency: Understanding how to use tools effectively and ethically.
• Critical thinking: Knowing when to trust outputs — and when to question them.
• Adaptability: Staying current as new platforms, features, and limitations emerge.
• Data storytelling: Interpreting and communicating AI-generated insights clearly to stakeholders.

According to McKinsey’s 2024 research, more than 30% of work across industries could be automated by AI — but the most competitive businesses will blend automation with human judgment and creativity.

What Employers Should Be Doing Now

To stay competitive, employers need to shift their hiring and talent development strategies. Here’s how:

1. Update Job Descriptions and Role Expectations

Today’s marketing executive may need experience with generative AI tools. Tomorrow’s finance manager will need to interpret AI-powered analytics. Start embedding these expectations into hiring criteria.

2. Upskill Your Existing Workforce

Reskilling isn’t optional anymore. Offer training on AI literacy, platform use, and data interpretation. According to the World Economic Forum, 50% of all employees need reskilling in 2025 — and those in non-tech roles are no exception.

3. Foster Cross-Functional Collaboration

AI works best when people from different teams understand its potential and limitations together. Encourage cross-departmental projects that bring together tech-savvy and non-technical team members.

4. Avoid Over-Automation

The temptation to replace human roles entirely is strong, but risky. Keep your focus on augmentation, not replacement. Human oversight, creativity, and empathy remain irreplaceable — especially in client-facing or decision-making functions.

Final Thoughts: A Broader Talent Strategy Is Needed

AI is no longer just transforming how engineers work — it's reshaping nearly every function in modern organisations. For hiring managers and employers, this shift is an opportunity: to attract new types of candidates, reskill internal talent, and future-proof your business.

The future of work isn’t about humans versus machines. It’s about humans who know how to work with them — regardless of job title.

Partnering for the Future

As AI continues to reshape job functions across industries, finding talent that blends technical adaptability with human expertise is more critical than ever. At Mason Alexander, we understand how rapidly evolving technology is impacting hiring needs — not just in engineering, but across finance, marketing, operations, legal, and more.

Whether you’re building future-ready teams or looking to upskill your current workforce, we can help you identify and attract professionals with the right mix of skills to thrive in an AI-driven world.

Partner with Mason Alexander to future-proof your workforce — and stay ahead of the curve.