AI is automating our jobs – but values need to change if we are to be liberated by it

Artificial intelligence may be the most transformative force in human history. Google’s Sundar Pichai has called AI more profound than fire or electricity. OpenAI’s Sam Altman believes it can cure diseases, solve climate change, and deliver personalised global education.Amid hype about productivity gains, growing concerns include rising inequality, fragile safety nets, and the risk of social unrest. A 2023 survey across 31 countries revealed that over half of respondents were nervous about AI’s impact on their lives and jobs. AI is also increasingly seen as a destabilizing force—potentially weaponised in ways that threaten geopolitical stability.The coming AI upheavalThe fear of machines replacing humans is not new. But in 2013, Oxford researchers Frey and Osborne warned that 47% of U.S. jobs were at high risk of automation, sparking global debate. Fast forward to now, and AI capabilities are advancing faster than expected. Since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, AI adoption has exploded. By 2023, Goldman Sachs estimated that two-thirds of all jobs were exposed to AI, and up to 300 million could be significantly affected.McKinsey noted that generative AI could automate up to 70% of activities that take up employees’ time. Brookings found over 30% of workers could see half their job tasks disrupted. The conclusion is clear: AI will dramatically reshape the world of work.Unlike past innovations, AI isn’t just a new tool—it’s a decision-making system that learns and adapts. It scales instantly and globally and is already outperforming humans in many domains. Goldman Sachs predicts that nearly half of administrative and legal work will be automated within a decade. Entry-level roles in finance and law are vanishing as AI takes over tasks like fraud detection and contract review.Even coders are vulnerable. AI is widely used for debugging and code generation. Anthropic’s Claude chatbot found that 37% of queries were related to software engineering tasks. Many programmers admit to over-relying on AI, eroding their core skills.AI also excels in medical diagnostics, outperforming humans in imaging and analysis. While doctors may not be replaced outright, support roles are at risk. Similarly, AI-generated content threatens creative jobs in journalism, design, and advertising. Education faces disruption too—AI tutors, auto-grading systems, and adaptive learning platforms are reducing demand for human teachers.Hardest hitManufacturing may be hit hardest. So-called “dark factories” in China and beyond now run 24/7 with minimal human oversight. Robots, unlike humans, don’t need light—or rest. CapGemini describes these facilities as places where raw materials enter and finished products leave with almost no human input.Optimists argue that, as in previous tech revolutions, job losses will be offset by new, more creative roles. But this view underestimates AI’s disruptive power. AI is not just doing “boring tasks” for us—it is increasingly capable of doing what we consider skilled, creative, or judgment-based work.Even where AI saves time, it rarely leads to more human connection. In healthcare, AI makes diagnosis quicker, but systems prioritize efficiency over quality patient interaction. Likewise, AI may streamline office work, but it’s more likely to be used to consolidate workloads than to foster creativity.Unless priorities shift—from productivity to human flourishing—AI may not free us. It may chain us tighter to systems that value speed and output above all else.AI’s uneven global impactAI’s disruption won’t be felt equally. Wealthier nations with strong infrastructure may manage transitions better. Poorer countries with limited AI penetration may be shielded—at least temporarily.The US leads in AI but is highly exposed to its fallout. Professional and technical workers in service industries face significant disruption. Over 95 000 US tech workers were laid off in 2024 alone, despite AI’s promises.Asia is aggressively deploying AI in manufacturing. China and South Korea operate “smart factories,” while India and the Philippines risk losing outsourcing jobs. Japan, facing demographic decline, embraces AI as a solution. However many economies in the region remain highly vulnerable.Europe is trying to get ahead with regulation. The EU’s AI Act targets high-risk applications and job impacts. Yet countries in Eastern Europe are already seeing job losses as automation spreads in manufacturing. Western Europe, with its service-based economy, faces threats similar to those in the USIn the Gulf, countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are integrating AI into logistics and government services as part of economic diversification. However high youth unemployment and dependence on migrant labour could worsen inequality if AI reduces the demand for low-skill jobs.Latin America faces disruption in agriculture, mining, logistics, and customer service. AI-driven tools threaten to displace call centre agents and farm labourers alike. Yet the region’s large informal economy may absorb some of the shock.In Africa, AI adoption is still low due to infrastructure gaps. Yet the growing digital economy suggests transformative potential in agriculture, logistics, and fintech. Ironically, low wages and limited automation incentives may shield African workers from rapid displacement—for now.No one is preparedGovernments and businesses are largely unprepared. While hundreds of AI-related policies have emerged, few are enforceable. The EU’s AI Act is a rare attempt at comprehensive regulation. China and South Korea have strategic plans focused on self-sufficiency and industrial dominance. The U.S., meanwhile, has embraced minimal regulation, favouring innovation at the risk of greater social fallout.Most countries in the Global South lack the infrastructure, funding, or awareness to respond meaningfully. As a result, global responses remain fragmented.Businesses are racing to adopt AI. A recent poll of executives showed 70% believe AI is advancing faster than their workforces can adapt, and 58% said competitive pressure is forcing rapid adoption. Another survey found over 40% of employers plan to reduce their workforce as a result.Lost in the scramble is serious planning for workforce transitions. Calls for upskilling and Universal Basic Income (UBI) have gained traction, but little concrete action has followed. Policymakers face a critical challenge: how to capture AI’s benefits while protecting workers.A question of valuesThe real challenge isn’t whether AI will disrupt jobs—it’s how societies will manage the upheaval. Past industrial revolutions created more jobs than they destroyed, but the transitions were long and painful. This time, change is faster and deeper.To navigate it, governments must establish a new social contract: investing in training, expanding safety nets, and considering UBI. They must also foster industries capable of absorbing displaced workers. Businesses must rethink AI adoption not as a way to replace workers, but to enhance them.AI offers immense promise. But without deliberate, coordinated action, it may deepen inequality and fuel unrest rather than liberation. – The Conversation* Robert Muggah is a Richard van Weizsäcker Fellow at the Bosch Academy and co-founder of the Instituo Igarapé while Bruno Guissani is an advisor for the Swiss Centre for Augmented Intelligence.

AI is automating our jobs – but values need to change if we are to be liberated by it

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Republikein 2025-04-30

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AI is automating our jobs – but values need to change if we are to be liberated by it

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