The news today is filled with exciting new technology breakthroughs such as virtual reality, machine learning, robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous vehicles. Where they are adopted, these same technologies are the bellwether of dramatic changes in fields from healthcare to finance. And, in the same breath, they herald a prospect of job loss, dislocation and disruption for people in certain occupations.

These are exciting and scary times. So how can you take advantage of the new opportunities these technologies are creating and also protect yourself from the inevitable buggy whip obsolescence?

According to a 2013 study by Oxford University’s Department of Engineering, nearly half of American jobs, 47%, are at risk of being automated over the next two decades.

The researchers examined 700 occupations, examining the tasks workers perform, the skills required and the engineering obstacles currently preventing computerization.

Tasks less at risk are those requiring creative and social skills.

With this in mind, the concept of lifelong learning is transforming from a discretionary aspiration to a career necessity. No longer is it a supplemental luxury to learn new skills, and no longer is learning new skills something you do only when you’re pursuing a significant career change. Being relevant, competitive, and in-demand in today’s fast-moving world requires an ongoing commitment to lifelong learning regardless of your role or career path.