Artificial intelligence has arrived in most all forms of industry, not disrupting, but rather reorganizing the way we think about work. The need for job seekers to harness AI skills was evident at the career fair on Oct. 30 hosted by the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce.

“Adaptation of technology is critical,” said Fran Olean, talent acquisition lead at Ocean State Job Lot. “AI is valuable and it’s really becoming an integral part of everything we do.”

If employers and employees do not adapt, she said, they risk falling behind. Ocean State Job Lot’s corporate sector echoes the rate at which companies, however reliant on technology, must prepare for the future.

“We actually have AI training courses internally,” said Olean. “And we have experts now that are doing roll-down training to the rest of the organization.”

The career fair was held at Innovate Newport in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, the City of Newport and CCRI Newport. The four-hour event attracted jobseekers of all ages, from a variety of education and work backgrounds.

Nearly 30 employers from healthcare, manufacturing, technology, banking, finance, insurance, and nonprofit organizations filled the conference space with tables equipped with informational fliers, packets and business cards.

They included Brown University Health, South County Health, General Dynamics, SEACORP, Coca Cola, Renewal by Anderson and Ocean State Job Lot.

Locally based nonprofits had a large presence such as Looking Upwards, Newport Mental Health and the James L. Maher Center looking to fill janitorial positions and behavioral counselors while The Preservation Society of Newport County was hiring retail shop associates and landscapers.

In a job market powered by online applications through company websites and sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, applicants were offered the opportunity to interact with employers in person.

“I think you really get to know a person face-to-face, more so than behind a screen,” said Alyssa Hirsbrunner, of the defense contractor, SEACORP.

“[Online], you run the risk of getting a lot of applicants who are not local,” said Christopher David, a human resources and talent lead at People’s Credit Union. “I know that somebody who comes here and talks face-to-face with me actually might apply.”

Understanding certain technology, such as AI, is critical, said one jobseeker, Andrew Wellott, a computer science major at CCRI.

“In my eyes, unless you’re going into computer science to program AI or manage AI, I don’t really think that there’s as much security,” he said. “[Managing AI] is definitely something I’m interested in touching on.”

Some jobseekers were hesitant about technology and its development over the last five years.

“I personally haven’t used AI throughout college,” said Elsa Eliasson, a recent Rhode Island College graduate. “I know for a lot of people checking the applications, they might be using AI.” The fear of technology sifting through and discarding resumes that don’t include certain “buzz words” is real feels Eliasson.

“But a human connection remains invaluable,” said Olean. “We take a look at the individual in totality. You can’t replace people engagement in relationship building.”