Who Will Lose Their Jobs to AI First?

Leading global technology companies, including giants like IBM, Cisco, Google, Microsoft, Intel, and SAP, have joined forces to create a consortium aimed at studying the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. Advisors from the American Federation of Labor, DigitalEurope, and Khan Academy will also participate in this initiative.

Focus on ICT Roles Most at Risk

The consortium’s goal is to research the effects of AI on 56 ICT professions that are most likely to be automated first. According to IBM estimates, these roles make up 80% of the top 45 job titles in the ICT field. The group’s work is based on the idea that AI can replace up to 30% of tasks that do not require direct customer interaction.

Preparing for the Future Workforce

In response to these challenges, the consortium plans to recommend and support training programs for students looking to change careers and for current IT professionals, helping them transition to positions that AI cannot easily take over.

Support from the U.S. Government

This initiative has received backing from the U.S. presidential administration. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo expressed appreciation for the consortium’s efforts to address the evolving needs of the workforce amid rapid AI development, emphasizing the link between economic and national security.

Balancing Productivity and Job Reductions

While much attention is given to the positive impact of AI on productivity—such as with Microsoft Copilot for Office 365, Google Gemini for Workspaces, and SAP Coding Assistant—there is growing concern about AI’s potential to reduce staff numbers. This highlights the importance of retraining programs.

Massive Retraining Plans

The consortium plans to retrain and help more than 95 million IT professionals transition to new roles over the next 10 years. Many of these workers may find opportunities as AI prompt engineers, even though studies show that AI can often handle such tasks more efficiently on its own.

A Responsible Approach to Automation

This new initiative appears to be a responsible step in the context of workplace automation through AI, as well as in the timely retraining of staff for in-demand specialties. The goal is to prevent millions of people from suddenly losing their jobs. The process should be smooth and cautious to avoid negative consequences for workers and the economy as a whole.