A new study has found that more than seven in ten Britons working in production are concerned that their jobs may be made obsolete thanks to developments in Artificial Intelligence in the coming years. What’s more, over two fifths of respondents believe AI could rebel against humans.
As technology develops and more money and time is invested into AI, the publics opinion has been explored, with those working in production, HR and construction uncovered to be the most worried that AI could take their jobs away from them.
The research was conducted as part of an ongoing study into Britons work life. Over 2,300 British adults, aged 18 and over, were quizzed as part of the research. All respondents remained anonymous throughout the poll*.
All respondents were initially provided with a list of different fields and asked to select which they worked in. They were then questioned as to whether they were concerned about their job being made obsolete by AI, with the following emerging as the top five sectors most fearful for their job security:
- Production – 71 per cent
- HR – 63 per cent
- Construction – 44 per cent
- Accounting – 40 per cent
- Marketing – 34 per cent
When relevant participants were asked how long they believed it would take for AI to take their jobs, 19 per cent said they thought it could happen in the next five years and 63 per cent answered within the next decade.
Fifteen per cent of relevant respondents admitted they had considered a change in career due to these concerns and when further pressed on this, seven per cent admitted to already taking steps to finding a new career path.
Of all participants, 51 per cent saw the exploration of AI as a negative use of scientists time and over two fifths (41 per cent) said they believed AI could rebel against humans in the future.
George Charles, a spokesperson for www.MoneySavingHeroes.co.uk, commented,
AI is becoming more advanced as time goes on, and there are already examples of it being used to do something a human used to do. An example of this is a number of publications using AI to write post-match reports following sporting events. It is absolutely mind blowing and impressive to think how intricate the programming has to be to accurately replicate the work of a human but it is also understandable why some people are concerned for their future job security. The jobs that could be most at risk are the ones that have a certain level of repetition, but I do think there will be guidelines introduced that will help in protecting people’s careers from complete AI takeover.
*Research undertaken by www.MoneySavingHeroes.co.uk
Interested in the future of work? We recommend the Future of Work Summit 2019.
Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!
Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.
Aphrodite is also a professional painter.
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