According to a report released by Senate Democrats, artificial intelligence and automation could potentially eliminate nearly 100 million jobs in the US over the next decade. This finding, perhaps ironically based on information from ChatGPT, reveals that emerging technologies could affect a broad spectrum of jobs across various sectors, both blue and white collar.
The impact of AI and automation is expected to reach significant portions of the workforce, including 40% of registered nurses, 47% of truck drivers, 64% of accountants, 65% of teaching assistants, and a staggering 89% of fast food workers.
The report draws a comparison to historical shifts, stating, “The agricultural revolution unfolded over thousands of years, while the industrial revolution spanned more than a century. The era of artificial labor could reshape the economy in just a decade.”
As discussions on AI regulation heat up in Washington, there’s a noticeable divide in perspectives. The Trump administration had asserted that the US should spearhead global AI development, cautioning that a victory by China could be a national security issue.
In contrast, Senate Democrats are advocating for heightened regulations in the sector, which includes worker protections such as limiting work hours to 32 per week for those affected by automation, and introducing measures like a “robot tax” on companies that turn to automated solutions.
In a Monday opinion piece, Senator Bernie Sanders highlighted how AI and robotics are more tools to centralize wealth than to improve lives. He warned that the advancements driven by the wealthiest in society could lead to the elimination of millions of quality jobs while simultaneously reducing labor costs and boosting profits for corporations.
Sanders pointed out the devastating impact that automation has already had on manufacturing workers, as well as on truck, bus, and taxi drivers due to the increasing prevalence of autonomous driving projects by auto manufacturers and tech startups.
“Some of the world’s wealthiest individuals, like Elon Musk, Larry Ellison, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, are currently investing vast amounts of money into these technologies,” Sanders noted. He questioned the intention behind such investments, suggesting they aim to enhance the wealth and power of a select few rather than improve living standards for the majority of workers.
