In the current world where many revolutions and changes are happening, artificial intelligence (A.I.) is a significant aid in making people’s daily tasks easier. Does it facilitate work or accelerate job loss?
There are inventions in robotics that handle household chores and everyday jobs. Isn’t it concerning that more people might become unemployed?
According to data from the US-EU Trade and Technology Council Inaugural Joint Statement (US-EUTTCIJS), it is noted that from the 1980s to the 2020s, the number of jobs being replaced by technology has significantly increased. It states that for every increase in employment in technology, the employment rate for humans remains the same or even decreases; the ratio was 1:100 in the 1980s, but it slightly changed to 33:100 at the start of the 2020s.
The significant changes in technology and the economy in America are evident; being a wealthy country, they do not seem to worry about this issue. Unlike the Philippines, where many Filipinos are unemployed, the number of jobless individuals increases every year. What will happen if technology further takes away their livelihoods?
According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA), more than 2.26 million Filipinos may lose their jobs in our country, and this could reach up to 14 million worldwide after five years. This data was released on May 3, 2023.
According to data from SEO.AI released in May 2023, about 14% of workers may lose their jobs, equivalent to 3,900 individuals in 2024 if the advancement of robotics technology continues in the country.
Certainly, A.I. can be detrimental, but it also has positive effects. Its capabilities should not be underestimated, as sometimes they are stronger and smarter than average humans. It is reported that A.I. has assisted nearly 38% of the industry based on 149 statistics released this year.
The presence of robotics in the economy is still a significant blow, as it reduces the number of people who should have jobs. According to Geoffrey Hinton, a British-Canadian computer scientist, A.I. can be beneficial and harmful, but Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon, argues that it is a mistake to underestimate A.I. because it can hurt people more.
The impact of robotics on the economy is both significant and complex. On one hand, robotics enhances productivity and efficiency, leading to cost reductions and improved product quality. This technological advancement can be a start of innovation and creation of new job opportunities in fields like tech development and system maintenance. However, the rise of automation also poses challenges, particularly job displacement in low-skill sectors, which can increase unemployment and economic inequality.
AI can have both positive and negative impacts on society. On the positive side, it increases efficiency by automating repetitive tasks, allowing humans to focus on more complex and creative work. It also drives inventions across various sectors, improving services in health, finance, and education through advanced data analysis and in critical situations. However, the rise of AI also poses challenges, such as job displacement, where automation may lead to significant unemployment in certain industries.
Additionally, AI systems can inherit biases from their training data, resulting in unfair outcomes, and raise privacy concerns through extensive surveillance and data collection. Ultimately, the effects of AI depend on how it is developed and used, highlighting the need for careful consideration of its societal implications.
What about the Philippines when it comes to A.I.? One question can be answered: it will bring significant changes to people’s lives, which can be good, bad, or both. However, one thing is certain: humans have greater reasoning than robots, as Elon Musk stated. A.I. can be an ally or an adversary, depending on how its use is balanced to also balance its impact on our daily lives.
About the Author
Cahrl Jayson Reyes is a 7-year feature writer who has passion to inspire co-journalists. Currently a feature writer and a publisher of a school publication. [Among Charl’s accolades as of writing is him becoming a Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) Qualifier in ScieTech Writing, and Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) qualifier in Feature Writing.]
