Generative AI Unlikely To Replace Most Jobs But Clerical Workers At Risk, UN Study Warns

This surge of interest surrounding generative AI and its applications in chatbots has ignited concerns reminiscent of historical instances of job displacement.

The UN underscores the potential severity of the impact on workers influenced by generative AI.

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A recent study conducted by the United Nations suggests that while generative AI is unlikely to completely replace the jobs of most individuals, it will instead automate certain tasks within their roles. This shift is anticipated to grant workers the opportunity to allocate their time towards other responsibilities, as indicated in the report released on Monday. The study raises a cautionary flag specifically regarding clerical work, which is projected to bear the brunt of this transformation. This could potentially have a more pronounced impact on female employment, given the disproportionate representation of women in this field, particularly in more affluent nations.

This surge of interest surrounding generative AI and its applications in chatbots has ignited concerns reminiscent of historical instances of job displacement, such as the introduction of the moving assembly line during the early 1900s and the advent of mainframe computers in the 1950s.

Nonetheless, the research, carried out by the International Labour Organization, offers a perspective that diverges from these apprehensions. The study concludes that rather than fully substituting jobs, AI is more likely to complement various professions and industries by automating certain aspects.

The report elaborates that the predominant impact of this technology will likely involve enhancing the overall work experience.

Analysing specific job categories, the study identifies clerical work as the most vulnerable to the influence of Generative AI — capable of producing text, images, sounds, animations, 3D models, and other types of data. It asserts that roughly a quarter of tasks within this realm face a high likelihood of automation. On the contrary, other vocations such as managerial and sales roles are projected to experience only marginal exposure to AI disruption.

Despite this tempered outlook, the United Nations agency underscores the potential severity of the impact on workers influenced by generative AI, characterising it as potentially "brutal".

Hence, the agency's report issues a stark reminder to policymakers, urging them not to interpret the study as a pacifying narrative, but rather as a clarion call to construct policies that effectively address the technological shifts on the horizon.