
(NationalUSNews.com) — Artificial Intelligence (AI) the burgeoning technology that allows computers to mimic human intelligence, is quickly integrating into more and more facets of the world every day.
While sometimes heralded as a powerful tool for innovation, many are suggesting AI will decimate the job market. A recent study by Layoffs.fyi, a website that tracks tech layoffs, shows over 100,000 layoffs this year with about five more months to go. They reported 212,000 tech layoffs last year, and 165,000 the year before.
Goldman Sachs released a report suggesting that AI could replace around 300 million jobs globally. The topic is being discussed, explored and studied by many organizations as AI continues to improve. The McKinsey Global Institute estimates that 14% of all employees will eventually need to change careers due to advancements in AI. While programmers and game designers are already feeling the pressure, jobs not directly related to tech will also be affected. Customer service, accounting, research and analysis, administrative roles, and even retail jobs could all be impacted.
The current state of AI, while always improving, still has some unreliable qualities, however. In May, Google rolled out their own AI, only for it to bizarrely recommend adding glue to pizza toppings, running with scissors for health benefits and suggesting that humans should eat one small rock per day. Other AIs seem to hallucinate, like law chatbots who have invented fictitious cases, or the Air Canada AI chatbot that promised customers refunds that the company was forced to honor. Peter St. Onge says that AIs are improving faster than human programmers. He added that tech jobs are just canaries in the coalmine though, as other industries will soon find ways to cut jobs rendered unnecessary by AI.
The McKinsey report pointed out that nearly half of all work that is currently performed by humans could be automated in the future. The installment payment provider Klarna says that their AI is capable of doing the work of 700 employees. They laid off approximately that number of workers only a few years ago.
While many believe this could be positive in the long run, bringing down costs and allowing for human innovation elsewhere, others worry that automation will destroy jobs that will not be replaced. In Detroit, when automotive jobs dried up, new industry did not take its place and the city still feels the effects of that to this day. As with all new technology, humanity will adapt, but the transition may be painful and costly.
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