As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to infiltrate various sectors, recent polls highlight a growing concern among Americans regarding its effects on the job market.
A YouGov survey released on Wednesday shows a notable rise in the percentage of Americans fearing job loss due to AI advancements. In 2023, 29 percent of 2,000 adults felt AI would cut jobs in their industry. By July, this figure surged to 41 percent, and further increased to 43 percent in a March 2024 survey. By August of the same year, nearly half (48 percent) believed AI would adversely affect jobs in their professions.
The report found that while many Americans were anxious about overall job losses related to AI, most felt secure about their own job stability.
Meanwhile, a Gallup study released the same day revealed three-quarters of respondents predict a decline in total job numbers over the next decade, mirroring sentiments from 2023. Additionally, only 23 percent expressed confidence that businesses would utilize AI responsibly.
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According to Bentley, author of Artificial Intelligence in Byte Sized Chunks, while the retail landscape evolved with the rise of online shopping causing job losses, new opportunities also blossomed in the e-commerce sector. He suggests this will likely be the case with AI as well.
“Certain roles will be automated, but new jobs and businesses will emerge as AI technologies develop,” Bentley explained. “However, we should exercise caution when relying too heavily on AI. Although it has great potential, it is not yet suited for critical applications like healthcare or education. It can assist in various fields but remains an imperfect reflection of human capability, sometimes making errors or behaving unexpectedly.”
Lintao Zhang
Potentially vulnerable roles include analysts, bookkeepers, customer service agents, media creators, legal assistants, and paralegals.