The Other Side of AI

Generative Artificial Intelligence is billed as the mother of all disruptions of this century. But a nuanced reading of the global labour market trends by the researchers at the World Economic Forum (WEF) and other centres of excellence suggest that the unfolding AI revolution is playing out as a net job creator than destroyer.

That 'the robots are coming for your jobs' is the usual lament by the alarmists, whenever a new technology unfolds. It was the case with steam engines to washing machines to personal computers to the Internet. And, as the digital revolution ushered in by the generative artificial intelligence is playing out at a global scale, the alarmists are once again on an overdrive with scary stories of how the evolving technology will change the workplace with machines replacing men in their work, and roles.

While there is no denying the fact that the evolving AI revolution will indeed redefine the workplaces by re-inventing roles, the argument that the new technology will make human beings near redundant is a misnomer. This has been made loud and clear by researchers at various multilateral bodies by doing on-the-ground empirical research. In this regard, reproducing some of the key findings of the Future of Jobs Report – 2023 published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) will prove to be an eye-opener for many. It also has lessons for India to learn since the country is ranked by the United Nations (UN) as the most populous country in the world with young and working-age population forming the bulk of the population pyramid.