Will There Not Be a Job for Humans?

Last week, the UK hosted a summit where world leaders discussed the safety of artificial intelligence, as well as its potential risks and opportunities. At the summit’s conclusion, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, stated in a video interview with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that artificial intelligence is the biggest threat in human history, and will eventually displace all human jobs, leading to a jobless future for humanity. Musk attempted to “sugarcoat” this issue by stating that in the future, having a job will be “optional” and there will be no compulsion to work. He did not address how people’s living expenses would be covered if they voluntarily quit their jobs.

Will artificial intelligence truly displace all human jobs? While Mr. Musk’s warning should be taken seriously, it is not entirely accurate. AI will undoubtedly eliminate many jobs. Administrative positions such as secretary, clerk, accountant, bank teller, editor, librarian, and paralegal, as well as sales-related jobs such as store cashiers, fast food vendors, and travel agents, and transportation-related jobs such as taxi drivers, Uber drivers, and postal workers are likely to be the first casualties of AI. However, some jobs appear to be more resistant to AI encroachment. Artistic jobs requiring unique human creativity, counseling, teaching, social work, and psychology positions necessitating direct human interaction, and law, engineering, and medical professions requiring extensive knowledge and understanding of complex scientific and technical principles are likely to remain secure. Furthermore, science and research jobs are expected to be largely unaffected by AI.

Job displacement due to the rise of artificial intelligence is a significant concern. However, there is a second, equally important issue that has not received much attention. The World Bank and the World Economic Forum predict that 85 million jobs will be lost in the next generation due to artificial intelligence. However, they also predict that AI will create 97 million new jobs that did not previously exist. This suggests that the total number of jobs may not decrease, but rather increase, with the advent of artificial intelligence. Importantly, these 97 million new jobs will primarily be in computer science and advanced information technology. In summary, while the total number of jobs may not decline in the future, the composition and nature of these jobs will undoubtedly change. Those on the “consumer” side of artificial intelligence will not only fail to create new jobs, but will also struggle to maintain their current ones. Conversely, those on the AI “producer” side will find their existing jobs relatively secure, and will also have access to numerous new opportunities in this expanding field.

This is a significant shift that will have a profound impact on career counseling for parents and their children. STEM fields such as engineering, medicine, and computer science will be even more important for the future generation. Even before the arrival of artificial intelligence, people had to consider the significant differences in income and job security between various professions. Now that jobs such as selling fast food, being a librarian, or working as a bank employee may disappear entirely due to AI, younger generations will naturally gravitate towards medical, engineering, law, research, and science careers to safeguard their professional futures against the disruptions caused by artificial intelligence.