Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more likely to improve job opportunities rather than replace them, which is a relief at a time when many worry about what AI might do to jobs.
Contrary to some concerns, recent studies suggest that AI can actually make jobs better instead of taking them away. Researchers have looked into how AI, especially generative AI like ChatGPT, might affect jobs. They found that most jobs won’t be fully automated and will probably be improved by this technology, rather than replaced.
According to these studies, the biggest impact of AI will likely be on the quality of jobs, including how intense they are and how much autonomy workers have. This impact would vary greatly between professions and regions, while it warned women were more likely than men to see their jobs affected.
Moreover, jobs involving clerical work are the most likely to be affected by AI. About a quarter of these jobs could be highly automated, and more than half could have some level of automation. On the other hand, in other occupational groups, including managers and technicians, only a small share of tasks was found to be highly exposed.
Countries with higher incomes would experience the greatest effects from automation, due to the important share of clerical and para-professional jobs in the job distribution there. In these countries, about 5.5% of all jobs might be affected by generative AI, while it’s much lower at 0.4% in lower-income countries.
Although there’s a big difference in how AI might affect jobs between rich and poor countries, the potential for AI to improve jobs is about the same everywhere. This means that with the right policies, developing countries could benefit from this new technology.
However, being cautious is key when integrating AI into the workforce. While AI does indeed make jobs better by automating routine tasks and freeing up time for more engaging work, it can also be used in ways that limit workers’ control or make their jobs more intense. So, countries should make policies ensuring AI benefits everyone and doesn’t harm workers. The outcomes of this shift in technology aren’t set in stone, and careful planning is essential.
