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The impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the job market

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology, jobs in many industries may be replaced by machines. In particular, repetitive and low-skilled jobs may face large-scale unemployment or changes in employment structure in the future. Although AI can help improve productivity, how to deal with the structural adjustment of the job market and how to ensure that workers can acquire new skills and adapt to new forms of work?
I mean studies have shown that AI tools literally cannot do basic administrative work any better than clerical workers and makes more errors or generates more mediocre/poorer quality work: https://futurism.com/the-byte/government-ai-worse-summarizing

Not to mention the enormous cost (both financial and environmental) of investing in and running those AI tools, which even Wall Street has begun to view more skeptically in terms of the investment required vs the returns: https://www.goldmansachs.com/images/migrated/insights/pages/gs-research/gen-ai--too-much-spend%2C-too-little-benefit-/TOM_AI%202.0_ForRedaction.pdf

So I think you're putting the cart before the horse here.

Reply 2

Original post
by powdered-avocati
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology, jobs in many industries may be replaced by machines. In particular, repetitive and low-skilled jobs may face large-scale unemployment or changes in employment structure in the future. Although AI can help improve productivity, how to deal with the structural adjustment of the job market and how to ensure that workers can acquire new skills and adapt to new forms of work?

Automation has always been around, from farms strapping ploughs to the back of horses…

People with skill but not expertise will become more vulnerable and those who really understand their domain will be able to exploit AI and be even more valuable.

It’s often why I tell early career scientists & engineers to focus on understanding the fundamentals & theory (rather than mastering a tool) even if you’re less efficient initially, the strong understanding becomes more valuable the higher you climb and the more the tools change.

Reply 3

Original post
by artful_lounger
I mean studies have shown that AI tools literally cannot do basic administrative work any better than clerical workers and makes more errors or generates more mediocre/poorer quality work: https://futurism.com/the-byte/government-ai-worse-summarizing
Not to mention the enormous cost (both financial and environmental) of investing in and running those AI tools, which even Wall Street has begun to view more skeptically in terms of the investment required vs the returns: https://www.goldmansachs.com/images/migrated/insights/pages/gs-research/gen-ai--too-much-spend%2C-too-little-benefit-/TOM_AI%202.0_ForRedaction.pdf
So I think you're putting the cart before the horse here.

Research shows that in some cases, AI tools may not be able to complete basic administrative work better than clerical personnel, and may even make more mistakes, resulting in lower work quality. This is mainly due to AI's lack of flexible situational understanding, challenges in processing unstructured data, and biases in training data. However, AI still has significant advantages in handling standardized tasks, so in the future, collaboration between AI and humans will be the best way to improve work efficiency and quality.

Reply 4

Original post
by mnot
Automation has always been around, from farms strapping ploughs to the back of horses…
People with skill but not expertise will become more vulnerable and those who really understand their domain will be able to exploit AI and be even more valuable.
It’s often why I tell early career scientists & engineers to focus on understanding the fundamentals & theory (rather than mastering a tool) even if you’re less efficient initially, the strong understanding becomes more valuable the higher you climb and the more the tools change.
Your words really taught me something,

Reply 5

I think it’s less about replacing jobs entirely and more about changing what jobs look like. AI and automation seem best suited for repetitive and time-consuming tasks, which can free up humans to focus on higher-value work like strategic or creative problem-solving. From what I’ve experienced, tools like chatbots or automated scheduling systems can make a huge difference in industries like healthcare or hospitality without removing jobs outright. It just shifts roles to focus more on personal interaction or decision-making.

But to really make the most of this shift, businesses need solutions that can balance efficiency with practicality. Intelligent Automation for businesses can be a good example of this because it helps streamline processes without losing the human touch. Systems like that are designed to complement, not replace, the workforce.
(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 6

Original post
by powdered-avocati
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology, jobs in many industries may be replaced by machines. In particular, repetitive and low-skilled jobs may face large-scale unemployment or changes in employment structure in the future. Although AI can help improve productivity, how to deal with the structural adjustment of the job market and how to ensure that workers can acquire new skills and adapt to new forms of work?

AI and automation are undeniably transforming the job market, but rather than fearing mass unemployment, we should focus on adaptation and upskilling. History has shown that technology creates new opportunities just as it disrupts old ones. Think of how the internet revolutionized entire industries.
The key to navigating this shift is continuous learning. Workers in repetitive roles must be supported through reskilling initiatives, vocational training, and digital literacy programs to transition into AI-augmented roles. Governments, businesses, and educators must collaborate to build a workforce that thrives in an AI-driven world.
Instead of replacing humans, AI is more likely to handle mundane tasks, freeing us to focus on creative, strategic, and interpersonal roles. Areas where human ingenuity shines. The future isn’t about humans vs. machines; it’s about how we integrate AI to enhance productivity and create new career pathways. Adaptability is our greatest asset!

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