IMF Warn That AI Will Impact 40% Of Jobs

Further to our article on the future of work, a new report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) may impact up to 40% of jobs (either in terms of complementing them, or in terms of displacing them altogether) and worsen inequalities. The safest jobs will be those where generative AI complements the role rather than replacing it altogether. However, the IMF warn that: "It is crucial for countries to establish comprehensive social safety nets and offer retraining programmes for vulnerable workers. In doing so, we can make the AI transition more inclusive, protecting livelihoods and curbing inequality." Nevertheless, Bill Gates, the Microsoft cofounder, believes that AI represents a net benefit as it will also create new opportunities. He states: "As...[with]...agricultural productivity in 1900, people were like ‘Hey, what are people going to do?’ In fact, a lot of new things, a lot of new job categories were created and we’re way better off than when everybody was doing farm work. This will be like that."