The impact that artificial intelligence (AI) has had on the world has been profound, particularly with the public introduction of ChatGPT about two years ago. Many view these awe-inspiring abilities with excitement and positivity. However, many others view these advances with trepidation, predicting negative consequences, leading to the beginning of an age of (intelligent) machines that will end humanity’s domination of the world and take over. I can understand that you are afraid of that. Chief among these concerns is the potential loss of jobs and the fear of being replaced by machines.
AI is the culmination of a rich history of technological advancement, with computer technology firmly established as a cornerstone of our modern era.
In his 1970 book Future Shock and 1980 book The Third Wave, Alvin Toffler predicted that computers would be at the center of a new revolution in human history. He writes that they will affect and change not just specific areas of our lives, but the global economy and security, and through them our culture as a whole.
Such a revolution has only happened twice in human history. The first phenomenon occurred about 13,000 years ago with the development of agriculture, after which humans stopped wandering from place to place to hunt and gather food. The second industrial revolution occurred about 250 years ago with the invention of modern science.
AI brings both opportunities and challenges. Indeed, it has great potential to address social challenges such as healthcare, environmental monitoring, and poverty reduction. Moreover, its implementation will facilitate the creation of high-skilled, high-paying jobs, increasing efficiency and productivity while automating repetitive and mundane tasks.
However, we cannot ignore the challenges and downsides of AI. Automation has the potential to replace certain jobs, especially those that involve routine manual or repetitive tasks. Some traditional jobs may become obsolete and workers will need to learn new skills to remain employed. In other words, AI will have a major impact on the world of work in the near future. However, concerns about the potential risks associated with it are driving calls for AI to be controlled and mitigated.
I do not agree with this general opinion. On the contrary, I believe that these concerns are exaggerated and that the introduction of AI will have a gradual impact on the labor market and will not cause large-scale job losses.
First of all, AI is not a threat to jobs that involve manual human labor. Second, in most cases, AI will not replace workers, but will be an auxiliary tool that helps workers better identify problems. Just as ultrasound enhanced, rather than replaced, doctors, AI will augment, rather than replace, the work of doctors.
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The intensive integration of AI into the labor market will lead to the upgrading and development of new occupations, but most existing occupations will not completely change. I recognize that new ethical concerns may arise, such as algorithmic bias and privacy violations, and that these issues need to be carefully addressed to ensure responsible AI adoption. doing.
I hope you don’t be afraid of technological advances. AI is a powerful tool, but it is not a deadly tool. How it is used is up to the user and may benefit humanity for better or worse. We need to build policies to ensure that we use it responsibly and in the public interest, and we certainly can.
In summary, the impact of AI on the workforce is multifaceted. For society, businesses, and policy makers to proactively address challenges, drive education and reskilling initiatives, and build a balanced approach to AI integration that considers both economic and social dimensions. It is important to do so.
The author is director of the Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center at Tel Aviv University and chair of TAU’s AI Day on February 5, 2024.
