Study: Artificial intelligence threatens 300 million jobs

A study published by the American Bank (Goldman Sachs) Research Center indicated that generative artificial intelligence has the potential to replace a quarter of work tasks in the United States and Europe, which is equivalent to 300 million full-time jobs. The report added that this new technology could particularly affect administrative staff and lawyers.

However, the report also notes that the productivity gains provided by generative AI could boost annual global GDP by 7% over a decade. While this increase is a positive development, it may not be enough to offset the “significant disruption” this technology will cause to major economies, according to the report.

Study authors Joseph Briggs and Daveesh Kodnani say nearly two-thirds of jobs in the US and Europe are at risk of being powered in part by AI. While globally, up to 18% of work can be automated. The report stated that developed countries will be more affected compared to emerging markets.

Despite the potential job losses, the report provides a more optimistic view of the roughly 63% of the US workforce. Workers in some industries may see 25% to 50% of their workload automated by AI, allowing them to focus on more productive tasks and stay in their position.

While the study finds that some jobs such as construction and maintenance will be less affected by generative AI, these jobs will still be at risk from other forms of automation.

A previous study supervised by researchers from OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT and published by Cornell University, stated that artificial intelligence linguistic models, known as (Large Language Models) LLMs, will affect in one way or another the daily work tasks of up to 80% of the workforce. in the United States.
The study stated that about 20% of workers will find, during the next few years, that the new technology will take over almost half of their responsibilities.

The study said that artificial intelligence will affect different professions in varying proportions, as workers in the scientific field will be among the least affected, while those with administrative professions and office work, and workers in creative fields such as content makers, software developers and marketing workers, will be among the most affected. categories affected.

The study authors noted that the intended effect is not necessarily negative, and it reflects the extent to which the aforementioned sectors benefit from artificial intelligence technologies, and it does not mean that this technology will become a substitute for the workforce in the affected fields, but rather a supporter and assistant to it in most cases.