Since the release of ChatGPT, we have witnessed amazing progress in the ability of artificial intelligence (AI) to make tasks performed by humans more efficient. However, while their abilities have become increasingly apparent, we still face uncertainty regarding the extent of their impact on the labor market. Is AI going to replace most of the work done by people? Which productive sectors are most susceptible to automation and which ones could be kept safe? what can we do to protect ourselves?
Although in this instance there are more doubts than certainties, as time progresses, new estimates emerge about the transformative potential of AI. In this sense, according to the bank Goldman Sachs, about 18% of the jobs on the planet have the possibility of being completely replaced by an AI.
But not all are pale. The director general of the International Labor Organization (ILO), Gilbert Houngbo, stated that, in general terms, technological and digital advances tend to create more jobs than are destroyed.
To illustrate how technology and innovation, which at first appear to displace workers, actually create employment in the long run, a recent study by economist and MIT professor David Autor used data from the United States Census and found that 60% of workers in the world’s largest economy today are in jobs that did not exist in 1940. This means that an impressive 85% of job growth in the last 80 years has come from new positions that have arisen thanks to technological advancement.
As an example, before the digital revolution, office jobs were based on manual tasks, with a large amount of paper. However, with digitization, new job opportunities arose that completely transformed the way in which these types of activities are carried out.
Thus, a large number of jobs have been generated, such as the development of software and applications, the design and maintenance of computer networks and the management of databases, the data analytics, cybersecurity. The technological revolution has also allowed employees to be more efficient, which has given rise to new positions related to project management, remote team coordination and workflow optimization.
While some traditional office jobs have been automated or displaced by technology, more often than not, these changes have led to the creation of more specialized roles that bring greater added value. And to take advantage of the new opportunities of the digital era, the people who worked have had to adapt their skills and abilities.
With the introduction of AI, the landscape has some similarities. Technology and AI must be allies to complement human talent and improve growth. Used intelligently, the interaction between AI and human creates a more virtuous end product. Although the most routine tasks are going to be replaced by machines, This will give rise to jobs that put creativity and the soft skills of humans in a central place..
The key? Constant training and learning to use new technologies. Here, The good news is that AI is easier to use than previous technologies and within the reach of most people.: It is even easier to learn to use than a cell phone, since you only write in the chat what you want to do, and you have a conversation very similar to the one we have with people. To use it, you only need to know how to read and write. The adaptation is not as abrupt as the one that the workers had to do with the irruption of the Internet.
In this sense, despite the delicate political and economic context in Argentina, the country has great human potential to succeed: a highly trained population. And remote work becomes a window of opportunity for Argentine workers. For example, when applying for remote jobs on the east coast of the US, they have competitive advantages over Asian workers, such as the minimal time difference and cultural similarity, which makes them attractive candidates to be hired. Argentina can take advantage of its talents to transcend borders and overcome current challenges.
For more than 10 years I have been dedicated to the development of artificial intelligence. I had the opportunity to work in video game development at one of the most important companies in the industry worldwide: Electronic Arts. Later, I was able to participate in the creation of a drone startup in Silicon Valley. I have also had experiences working on neural networks in Manzana and Goalafter my career and research in AI at the Stanford University.
I am currently working on FreeWillAI, a project that seeks to offer companies and developers the possibility of using artificial intelligence in the blockchain in a decentralized way, promoting the development of Dapps (decentralized applications), protocols and cryptocurrencies. Our vision is to democratize artificial intelligence and allow it to take on a life of its own.
The development of AI can act as a catalyst for human potential, moving us away from more routine tasks, allowing us to focus on more humane and creative tasks. As has happened with previous technologies, adaptability and constant learning are key to facing the challenges of today’s labor market. Statistics show us that, in the long term, it will be a positive and creative transformation for our jobs.
Lucas Roitman, Stanford Research Fellow & CEO of FreeWillAI
by Lucas Roitman
