Artificial intelligence (AI) is bringing a “revolution” to the economy that will affect “almost all” jobs and force regulations to limit the effects that this technology will generate. And especially in the workplaces of professional activities that until now had been saved from automation. At the moment, the effect is not noticeable because the deployment is in the minority, but it will.
This is what the OECD believes, which has focused its report on the state of employment in 2023 on AI and the labor market. According to this study, published yesterday, 27% of jobs in industrialized countries have a high risk of being automated, either with AI or other automation technologies such as ICT or robotics. Hungary, Slovakia or the Czech Republic, with more weight in manufacturing and routine tasks, exceed 30%, the most exposed. Spain exceeds the average, with 28%.
The organization sees differences between AI and other previous technological revolutions. For example, it goes beyond automating repetitive and routine tasks, as its predecessors did; as it is a general-purpose technology, “it will affect almost all sectors and occupations”; and the speed of development is “unprecedented”. The progress, falling costs and greater availability of workers with AI skills “suggests that OECD economies could be on the verge of a revolution.”
The most typical image is that of factory workers being replaced by a machine… But AI has made great strides in information ordering, memorization, perceptual speed or deductive reasoning. With the latest developments, skilled jobs are the most exposed, especially business professionals, managers, executives, science and engineering professionals, legal and cultural sector workers… “The potential scope of automation is expanding considerably beyond what had been possible”, it is affirmed. Those who have the least to worry about are the cleaners, caretakers, day laborers or fishermen.
Its deployment is a game of pros and cons. It can reduce tedious and dangerous tasks, which allows for more worker involvement, a safer work environment “and even improves mental health”. It also generates “more complex and interesting” tasks. But since it eliminates the simplest tasks, “it leaves the workers with a more intense, faster-paced environment.” More stress: 75% of finance workers and 77% of manufacturing workers who use AI have seen an increase in their work pace, according to a survey of 5,300 employees.
It can also change the way work is monitored or supervised, and while it can improve the sense of justice, it puts privacy, autonomy and perpetuates biases – prejudices when hiring or evaluating women, disc – peace and ethnic or racial minorities – because he learned them from humans. “Just as there are potential benefits, there are also significant risks, such as employment”, acknowledges the OECD.
With this in mind, governments are asked to create a legislative framework that takes advantage of the benefits of AI and that protects the rights and well-being of the worker, their data and protects them from discrimination.
If we ask the workers, it seems that the impact is great. 60% fear losing their job to artificial intelligence in the next ten years. For now, the impact on employment is minor, as the deployment is in the minority and the jobs that are lost are complemented by voluntary departures or retirements. Because AI still has “relatively low” adoption and the technology is advancing quickly, “any negative effects on employment may take time to materialize.”
In Spain, 28% of jobs are at high risk of being automated. “They tend to be the least qualified occupations and those occupied by younger workers”, completes the organization. AI will have “a profound impact on the skills that will be needed in the labor market”. In this sense, the OECD applauds that the SEPE finances programs to promote training in AI.
