New Survey Shows AI May Be Reducing Worker Numbers
In a new survey released on Friday, Adecco Group, a leading staffing provider, has unveiled insights that predict a significant transformation in the global employment landscape over the next five years. And what’s driving this? Well, it’s AI of course.
According to the survey, which involved senior executives from 2,000 major companies worldwide, approximately 41% anticipate a reduction in their workforce due to the integration of AI technologies into businesses.
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All of this comes with the rise of generative AI, which is capable of producing text, images, and videos from open-ended prompts. This has ignited a dual narrative of optimism and apprehension as many see the potential of the technology and others worry about negative impacts on an already shaky labor marker.
On one hand, there’s the potential for AI to streamline operations by automating mundane tasks, freeing humans to handle more complex or creative tasks. But on the other, there is fear looming that AI may render certain job roles redundant — particularly white-collar positions and/or task-orientated jobs.
This dichotomy is further underscored by recent strategic shifts within tech behemoths like Google and Microsoft, who, in adapting to the AI wave with tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini, have initiated significant layoffs within their own companies.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Alain Dehaze, CEO of Adecco, offers a perspective rooted in historical context. He recalls the digital revolution’s initial threat to job security twenty years ago. In the end, it led to the creation of numerous digital-era careers that weren’t in existence twenty years ago.
So Dehaze remains optimistic about the AI-driven employment landscape, projecting a balance between job creation and obsolescence. Dehaze also emphasizes the importance of internal training programs that enable current employees to harness AI technology, rather than exclusively hiring external AI specialists.
This is an approach that is championed by Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, who sees AI-based technology as a complement to human labor, not a replacement. So Dehaze believes to get the most out of AI, it’s best to join to do so they can leverage the potential of AI to augment human capabilities.
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The survey spanned a diverse array of sectors — including defense, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, industry, and logistics — across nine countries (the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Canada, Australia, and Singapore).
Originally posted on OpenDataScience.com
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