A variety of anxieties have been stoked by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems like ChatGPT, from the advent of covert propaganda to the proliferation of racial and discriminatory rhetoric. A recent paper details just how destructive AI technologies could be for employment, and experts have also expressed concern about potential job losses.
Up to 300 million full-time jobs might be eliminated globally as a result of automation brought on by ChatGPT and other AI tools, according to Goldman Sachs. It equates to up to 18% of the workforce worldwide.
Advanced economies will be more severely affected than poor countries. That’s partially because white-collar workers will be exposed to more risk than manual laborer’s do. Lawyers and administrative staff are among the professions most at risk; construction and other physically demanding jobs will fare better.
In the United States and Europe, where the report projects that up to 25% of all employment may be handled totally by AI, almost two-thirds of all work will likely see some level of automation.
A risk or an opportunity?
There is some hope. According to the survey, since many jobs would only be somewhat affected by AI, this labor may actually be enhanced by automation rather than being replaced by it. Long-term disruption brought on by AI may contribute to the creation of new jobs and an increase in productivity, much like other recent innovations like the electric motor and the personal computer have in the past.
Nonetheless, the finding comes after more than 1,000 scientists and industry executives signed an open letter urging the suspension of all work on AI models more sophisticated than GPT-4 for a minimum of six months. This would enable the establishment of measures to guarantee that AI tools are utilized “clearly for the benefit of all.” Artificial intelligence will “offer serious hazards to society and mankind” in the absence of this, the authors argued.
It appears that artificial intelligence will threaten a significant number of occupations. The key question is whether this upheaval will ultimately benefit employees by eliminating boring, repetitive work and creating new job opportunities, or whether it will be a threat that makes everyone less fortunate. The frontiers of AI lack a map to help people navigate their numerous potential dangers, as the recent open letter cautioned.
