Infosys Limited INFY Consulting’s global AI co-lead, Martin Weis, has voiced concerns over the potential for social unrest in the U.K. due to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
Weis suggested that significant upheaval may ensue if societal reassurances about AI’s impact are not established within the next three years.
What Happened: As reported by Bloomberg, Weis anticipates that by 2030, nearly 30% of working hours in the U.S. and U.K. could be managed by technology.
Administration and back-office tasks are most at risk, which could lead to the disruption of millions of jobs.
“I would say we have two to three years because now people are trying it out,” he said, referring to generative AI platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
These comments come ahead of the U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s forthcoming AI Summit, a key event for those crafting policies in response to the changing nature of work.
Weis urged governments to understand and address these changes promptly. Potential responses could include investing in education and re-skilling, implementing legislation to limit AI’s impact, or providing a basic income to assist those who lose their jobs.
The Infosys executive also shared concerns over the uneven distribution of profits from AI-driven productivity gains. He cautioned that without careful planning, the majority of profits could be concentrated among a few private sector companies, leaving average workers jobless and local economies poorer.
The Institute for Public Policy Research supported Weis’s views, underlining the need for extensive global cooperation and a bold government AI strategy.
Why It Matters: Earlier this year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development or OECD warned that AI could automate 27% of jobs in the coming years.
In August, a study by the McKinsey Global Institute projected that about 12 million U.S. workers may need to switch jobs by 2030 due to AI.
On the other hand, Philip Moyer, VP of Google Cloud’s global AI business, argued that AI could eliminate tedious tasks and make work more satisfying.
These varying viewpoints highlight the complex challenges and opportunities that AI represents for the future of work.
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