According to a UN study, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more likely to enhance jobs rather than eliminate them, amidst concerns about its potential impact on industries and employment. The launch of the generative AI platform ChatGPT in November was seen as a significant technological milestone that could lead to a profound transformation of the workplace. However, the recent study by the United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO) suggests that most jobs and industries will experience partial exposure to automation, with AI technologies like ChatGPT more likely to complement rather than replace them.
The ILO noted that the primary impact of AI technology is expected to be changes in the quality of jobs, particularly in terms of work intensity and autonomy. The study also underlined that the effects of AI would vary across professions and regions, while cautioning that women are more likely to be affected by job changes compared to men. It revealed that clerical work has the highest level of exposure to automation, with approximately a quarter of tasks highly exposed and over half having medium exposure.
On the other hand, occupational groups such as managers and technicians have a relatively small share of highly exposed tasks, with around a quarter having medium exposure levels. The analysis further revealed that higher-income countries will experience greater effects from automation, largely due to the higher proportion of clerical and para-professional jobs. In contrast, low-income countries have a significantly lower proportion of potentially automated employment.
In addition, the study found that the share of employment potentially affected by automation is more than double for women compared to men, mainly driven by women’s overrepresentation in clerical work, particularly in middle- and high-income countries. Despite the disparities between wealthy and poorer nations in terms of potential job losses caused by AI, the study noted that the potential for job augmentation is relatively equal across all countries. This suggests that with appropriate policies in place, developing countries could benefit from the new wave of technological transformation.
However, the ILO cautioned that while augmentation has the potential for positive outcomes, such as automating routine tasks to create more engaging work, it can also be implemented in a way that limits workers’ agency or increases work intensity. Therefore, countries should develop policies to facilitate a smooth and fair transition, emphasizing that the outcomes of the technological shift are not predetermined.
Source: AFP Relaxnews
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