Google has released a report indicating that nearly two-thirds of jobs in the UK could be significantly enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI), with only a small fraction facing the risk of obsolescence.
According to research conducted by Public First and commissioned by Google, 61 percent of British jobs will experience radical transformation due to AI integration, while 31 percent will remain relatively unaffected.
Jobs in social care, transport, accommodation, and food services are among those expected to be least impacted by automation due to the complexity and variability of the tasks involved.
Debbie Weinstein, Managing Director of Google UK, emphasised the need to support workers in adapting to AI technologies. “Currently, less than 50 percent of people are utilising these tools daily. To unlock AI’s potential, we must ensure people feel confident and capable in using them,” she stated.
Public First’s study aligns with findings from the Tony Blair Institute, which used an AI model to evaluate over 17,000 work tasks for their potential to be automated or significantly streamlined by AI.
Which jobs will be phased out by AI?
The research predicts that only a minor portion of jobs, particularly in the financial and insurance sectors, may be entirely phased out. Even in these fields, only 4 percent of jobs are at risk, with 83 percent expected to be enhanced by AI.
In response to these findings, Google has partnered with the Community union, Enterprise Nation, and two multi-academy trusts to explore effective ways to integrate AI into workplaces. Weinstein explained that the initiative involves tailored approaches to different job roles, including personalised training and coaching for school teachers and administrators.
The UK government supports this initiative, with Minister for AI, Feryal Clark, highlighting its potential to boost economic growth and public services. “Accelerating AI adoption is crucial for economic growth and creating new opportunities. Equally important is ensuring our workforce is prepared through AI skills training,” Clark said.
The financial benefit of AI
Public First estimates that AI could add over £400 billion to the UK economy in the next six years, potentially increasing the annual growth rate by 2.6 percent. Google claims that generative AI could save the average British worker 100 hours per year, marking the most significant productivity improvement since the introduction of Google Search.
Google’s parent company, Alphabet, recently reported substantial profits and a $70 billion stock buyback, despite facing criticism for its AI endeavours, including a problematic rollout of the Gemini AI image-generator tool. Nonetheless, Alphabet continues to invest heavily in AI, showcasing new features like AI Overviews during its annual developers’ conference. These AI-generated summaries have faced criticism from publishers concerned about reduced website traffic.
Overall, Google’s research underscores the transformative potential of AI in the UK job market, emphasising the importance of supporting workers in embracing these technological advancements.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
