The launch of chatbot ChatGPT in November, which is seen as a revolution in the use of AI, has raised many concerns about the transformation of the world of work and its impact on employment.
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However, a new study by the United Nations International Labor Organization (ILO) examining the potential impact of these artificial intelligence platforms suggests that most jobs and industries are only partially affected by automation.
AI “will support certain activities rather than replace them,” says the ILO.
“Therefore, the first consequence of this new technology is not expected to be the destruction of jobs, but rather possible changes in the quality of jobs, particularly work intensity and autonomy,” the study states.
The study also points out that the impact of this new technology varies greatly by profession and sector, with women being more affected than men.
Administrative work in offices is the category most exposed to artificial intelligence technologies. Almost a quarter of the tasks are considered very exposed and more than half have an average level of exposure.
For managers and technicians, according to the ILO, only a small proportion of jobs will be affected by AI, while around a quarter will be heavily affected by it on average.
The report indicates that high-income countries would feel the greatest impact from automation due to the high proportion of office jobs.
It found that 5.5% of total employment in high-income countries was potentially exposed to the automation effects of generative AI, compared to just 0.4% of employment in low-income countries.
At the same time, the study pointed out that the proportion of female employment potentially affected by automation is more than double that of males due to the over-representation of women in clerical work. , especially in high- and middle-income countries.
While this study shows significant differences between rich and poor countries, it concludes that the potential number of jobs created by AI is practically the same in all countries.
This suggests that “with the right policy measures, this new wave of technological change could bring significant benefits to developing countries,” according to the ILO.
Countries must therefore draft policies to support “orderly, equitable and consultative” change, the study’s authors said.