The application of new technologies to the world of work has opened up many doubts. In most scenarios as AI will worsen overall inequality, it is critical that countries establish social safety nets that offer reskilling programs for vulnerable workers.
The idea of replace men with machines it is something ancient, it is also something that has already happened, as every technological revolution demonstrates. Let’s think about looms, the Luddite movement, mechanical arms in factories. Yet the latest statements by Chris Philp, Conservative MP and shadow Home Secretary, remain concerned. During an interview on BBC Breakfast he proposed replacing the underpaid migrants with automated machines.
Other countries “use a lot of automation” for tasks like picking fruit and vegetables “instead of simply importing a lot of low-wage migrant labor.” According to Philip, greater investments in new technologies are needed “to reduce net migration data in the United Kingdom”.
The application of new technologies to the world of work has opened up many doubts. In fact, if on the one hand artificial intelligence could be an advantage, improving the productivity of employees, relieving them from the most repetitive and mechanical tasks, on the other hand it risks replace roles, reduce labor demand and impact wages.
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Chris Philp’s theory
Philip explained to the BBC: “In many countries, like Australia or New Zealand they are already implementing robotic equipment and automated fruit and vegetable harvesting, in South Korea they use nine times as many robots in production processes as we do, in America they use much more modular construction that is much faster and much more efficient. There are many things the British industry can do to grow without having to import large numbers of low-income migrants“.
He added: “We need to do the work appropriately to understand exactly how many highly qualified people and well paid we need, how many people come here to do actual degree courses, not using degree programs as some sort of parallel migration system, which has happened to some extent so far.”
What are the risks of artificial intelligence used for labor
Second Kristalina GeorgievaDirector General International Monetary Fund (IMF) “in most scenarios artificial intelligence will worsen overall inequality”. Georgieva then added that politicians should address this “worrying trend” to “prevent technology from further fueling social tensions”.
In fact, the implementation of AI rewards high-income workers by going to widen the inequality gap. “It is crucial that countries establish social safety nets that offer reskilling programs for vulnerable workers,” Georgieva explained. “This way we can make the transition to AI more inclusive, protecting livelihoods and curbing inequality.”
