- What’s a conversation we’re not having enough when it comes to AI and the future of work?
There is no shortage of headlines and articles on AI and the future of work. But too often, this discourse focuses solely on job losses, coupled with sensational headlines. While technologies continue to evolve rapidly, meaning that we can’t yet drew firm conclusions, it is also true that we need to look at the labour market effects much more carefully. This entails understanding how AI impacts not only the quantity of jobs but also the quality of them and the nature of work, in terms of wages, working conditions and rights more broadly. The larger issue of inequality is also crucial.
2. In your view, what are the current and potential future impacts of automation on developing economies?
Currently, the impact of digitalization and AI in developing economies is less than in advanced economies, primarily due to the digital divide and differences in the structure of economies. While the possible negative effects on jobs are less (but not zero), we also know, as shown by ILO research, that the digital divide prevents developing countries from taking advantage of the benefits from new technologies, such as AI.
But there are two caveats to this view that developing countries are not being affected by AI. First, digital tools and platforms are growing rapidly, even if the use of generative AI is more confined to small part of the population – see the rise of digital payment systems, such as M-PESA in Eastern Africa, and the rapid emergence of digital labour platforms, both location-based and online, which are creating opportunities and challenges in all countries. Second, emerging technologies, such as AI, continue to evolve so we cannot assume that the situation today will hold in the coming months and years. We need to continue to monitor the situation.
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3. How do these impacts influence groups in vulnerable situations, such as women, youth, and migrants?
A key lesson from centuries of technological change is that there are both winners and losers as economies and labour markets adjust. ILO research has shown that women are more susceptible to the automation effects of AI due to their overrepresentation in occupations that are most exposed, such as administrative jobs. Recent data on actual labour market trends (as opposed to potential effects) is telling us that we should be worried about how generative AI is impacting young people – evidence is emerging to suggest that there is a more negative effect of AI on young labour market entrants in such countries as the US. At the same time, there are range of use cases that can help certain groups access new learning and employment opportunities. For example, under the PROSPECTS programme, the ILO is supporting young people in remote areas of Kenya through digital skills training and mentoring programmes to access online job opportunities.
4. While we talk about the quantity of jobs impacted by AI, what would you say about the quality of jobs impacted?
As already mentioned, we need to focus on not only implications of AI for job quantity but quality as well, which is where the largest effects are likely to emerge. AI impacts tasks and won’t eliminate most jobs entirely. But these changes can lead to effects on wages, depending on how demand for the occupation shifts, and working conditions due to the impact of AI in the workplace.
We already see the use of algorithmic management tools, which are getting supercharged by AI, for recruitment, allocating tasks, monitoring and evaluating workers. While this has the potential to improve productivity, it poses challenges in terms of workers’ agency and the nature of their jobs. Key is transparency on the use of these tools, matched by dialogue to ensure that new technologies can be beneficial to both the enterprise and their workers.
5. There’s often a regional divide in how AI is deployed and its benefits are distributed. How can we bridge that gap—both nationally and globally?
A digital divide exists both within and between countries due to differences in access to digital infrastructure and skills. The share of the population using the Internet in 2024 reached 93 per cent in high-income countries compared with just 27 per cent of the population in low-income economies. Even in advanced economies, such as in the European Union, access to AI is uneven with higher rates of adoption in richer countries and larger firms. Within countries, access to broadband (optic fibre) Internet and training programmes is more limited in rural areas. In response, greater investments are needed in infrastructure and skilling to ensure that these gaps are reduced. Support is also needed to ensure that there are opportunities for developing economies to build their own AI ecosystems in terms of both development and deployment of new technologies in different languages and adapted to country-specific contexts.
The share of the population using the Internet in 2024 reached 93 per cent in high-income countries compared with just 27 per cent of the population in low-income economies.
6. What kind of policy frameworks do we need to ensure that AI benefits all workers?
From an ILO perspective, the Decent Work Agenda remains key for assessing both the benefits and challenges arising from the development and deployment of AI. In practice, responding to the opportunities and challenges posed by AI will involve applying existing policies and regulations, while adapting and developing new strategies and governance frameworks where needed, in line with international labour standards and through social dialogue (e.g., to address the platform economy).
There are three areas we need to look at: first, address the negative impact of AI through redeployment, social protection and active labour market policies (e.g., employment services); second, enhance digital skilling and upskilling to support access to new technologies, along with measures to assist small businesses to overcome the digital divide and take advantage of opportunities; and third, strengthen governance mechanisms to ensure rights are protected in the workplace (e.g., safeguarding against discriminatory algorithms).
7. If you could deliver just one message to global policymakers about AI and employment, what would it be?
AI is creating both new opportunities and challenges in the world of work and to ensure that the benefits are broadly shared, we need to assess the impact of AI on both the quality and quantity of jobs, and respond through employment policies and other measures, backed by the latest evidence and social dialogue.