Week 3: AI and the Job Market

Week 3

In our text Surfing the Tsunami, we are encouraged to acknowledge that AI will in fact effect our lives. Whether you are an optimist, a pessimist or a realist you have to acknowledge change is happening from AI. Automation has been affecting jobs for decades. The image above is from the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Charlies dad once worked at a toothpaste factory where he worked on the lids of the containers. He was let go due to a machine taking his position. We see and hear this happening time and time again but with the new increases of AI will more jobs be lost? 

We know AI is changing the job market drastically but not all of it is bad. While automating jobs can be seen as a negative we also need to look at some of the positives. AI can help reduce human error, increase efficiency and keep some factories running around the clock which will help with production rates. It is estimated that 300 million jobs are at risk but at the same time we will need an increasing number of individuals to help with the development and monitoring of AI. 

Some jobs are at a higher risk of being negatively affected by AI than others. Some jobs that will always be in demand and will not be affected are nurses, teachers, personal trainers, authors, musicians and others such as plumbers, electricians, and agricultural workers. The roles of this job might be affected by AI but will never be fully replaced. If you are worried about job security pursuing one of these careers might be a safer option for you. Another option is to pursue a career in AI or a role related to the development and analysis of AI.