The Inevitability of AI Job Automation in the UK

Ian Hogarth, the head of the UK government’s AI taskforce, asserts that as AI systems continue to evolve, job automation is “inevitable”. A tech entrepreneur and investor, Hogarth shared his views during a BBC interview, where he spoke of the taskforce’s mission to “better understand the risks associated with these frontier AI systems” and to hold companies accountable.

Notably, Hogarth’s perspective is echoed by many others. A study by the McKinsey Global Institute predicts that as many as 800 million jobs globally could be automated by 2030.

While the study acknowledges that AI will inevitably create new jobs, it contends that the overall impact on employment will be negative, given that the newly created jobs will demand a higher skill level than those made redundant.
 

Safeguarding British Jobs in the AI Automation Era

 
The UK government is adamant about safeguarding British jobs amidst the rise of AI automation. A series of measures have been announced to assist individuals whose jobs are threatened by automation, which include retraining and upskilling programmes.

The government vows to collaborate with businesses to ensure AI is deployed for societal benefits. This involves guaranteeing that AI creates new jobs and boosts productivity, rather than merely replacing existing jobs.

New Human Jobs in AI

 
Despite the job losses attributable to automation, it’s undeniable that AI will spawn new jobs. These newly created roles will necessitate a different skillset compared to the roles that are being phased out, hence, the importance of upskilling and retraining cannot be overstated.

New jobs likely to arise from AI include AI developers and engineers, AI trainers and educators, AI ethics experts, AI policy makers, AI journalists, and AI artists, to name a few.
 

Mitigating Risks and Ensuring AI Accountability

 
As AI matures, it’s crucial to tackle the risks it presents. These risks encompass bias, discrimination, privacy violations, security breaches, and weaponisation.

It’s important to enforce accountability in AI. This implies that individuals should be able to comprehend how AI systems function and hold the companies that develop and utilise these systems responsible for their actions.
 

The Potential Benefits of AI in Healthcare

 
AI holds the potential to revolutionise healthcare. It can be deployed to diagnose diseases, innovate new treatments, and personalise care. For instance, AI can scrutinise medical images to identify tumours or other anomalies. It can also be used to formulate new drugs and treatments by simulating the human body.
 

The UK’s Journey Towards Becoming a Global AI Hub

 
The UK stands a good chance of emerging as a global AI hub. Given its strong track record in research and development, and the government’s commitment to AI investment, the UK is well-positioned to realise this ambition.

The UK boasts a diverse and skilled workforce, enhancing its ability to draw top-tier AI talent from around the world.

The UK government has set an ambitious goal to become a global leader in AI by 2030. Achieving this target could generate new jobs, boost the economy, and enrich lives across the globe.