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Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

AI takeover in UK: 8 million jobs on the line

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 27 Mar 2024 13:57
4 Min Read

A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research showcases the dangers of artificial intelligence, which is penetrating the labor market at a growing rate.

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  • People reflected in a window of a hotel at the Davos Promenade with a slogan about AI alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 (AP)
    People reflected in a window of a hotel at the Davos Promenade with a slogan about AI alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Monday, January 15, 2024. (AP)

8 million women, younger and lower-wage workers might lose their jobs to Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs substituting entry-level, part-time, and administrative jobs, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warned. 

The Guardian reported, citing the IPPR, that the United Kingdom's bigger companies have adopted more AI systems that could read and create data, perform daily work transactions, and shut down certain lower-level positions. The report said this signifies the first wave of AI adoption. The second wave, on the other hand, could greatly automate more jobs. 

The IPPR also analyzed 22,000 tasks, covering every type of job, and revealed that 11% of them are at risk of being automated. This includes routine tasks such as database management, scheduling, stocktaking, and several entry-level secretarial and customer service jobs. 

As the second wave approaches, the number will increase to 59% as enhancements to AI will enable its fulfillment of more complex activities. For example, non-routine tasks, like copywriting, database creation, and graphic design, all of which fall under higher pay jobs, are prone to automation. 

The most affected unit could most possibly be women, because of their exposure to secretariat and administrative jobs that are the first to be substituted, the IPPR found. 

Read more: 'Godfather of AI' warns of tech dangers; quits Google

Polar opposite effects of AI

According to the report, in the most adverse situation of the second wave of AI, around 7.9 million jobs could be replaced, nullifying any economic benefits from enhanced productivity, and leading to stagnant GDP growth within three to five years.

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In a more ideal scenario, where the entire workforce is fully augmented with generative AI, no jobs would be lost, and the economy could potentially grow by 4%, generating about £92 billion annually.

The think tank addressed its concerns and said the government must prevent a "jobs apocalypse", and instead of allowing AI to obliterate human jobs, it should be utilized to regenerate the economy and boost living standards. 

AI's penetration into the labor market only entails two polar outcomes, either it disturbs it, or invokes economic growth, Carsten Jung, senior economist at IPPR, said. 

“But technology isn’t destiny and a jobs apocalypse is not inevitable – government, employers, and unions have the opportunity to make crucial design decisions now that ensure we manage this new technology well. If they don’t act soon, it may be too late.”

Read more: UK growing more worried about potential use of AI to create bioweapons

The mechanization of Google

Riding the bandwagon, Google confirmed in January that it is eliminating "a few hundred" positions from its global ad team and replacing them with artificial intelligence for "efficiency and creativity."

It was expected that due to the small business ad campaign, more people would be hired by Google. However, the latter believes that the cuts to its "large customer" sales team will result in better support for small and medium-sized businesses advertising on Google's platform. 

Google's cloud computing unit announced new AI tools to assist retailers "personalize online shopping, modernize operations, and transform in-store technology rollouts," referencing research findings that around 80% of US retailers feel it's urgent to embrace generative AI in their operations. 

The Cloud's Vice President, Carrie Tharp, stated, "In only a year, generative AI has morphed from a barely recognized concept to one of the fastest-moving capabilities in all of technology and a critical part of many retailers' agendas." 

Last year, Google also laid off around 12,000 people, about six percent of its workforce, amid inflation and rising interest rates.

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Google
  • automation
  • United Kingdom

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