The study by the International Labour Organisation examines the risks that generative AI poses to professions and fields of work, as well as the potential impact on the quantity and quality of work tasks.
The study suggests that most professions and industries are only partially exposed to automation and are more likely to be supplemented than replaced by generative AI. As a result, the greatest impact of AI is not the redundancy of jobs, but the potential changes in the quality of work, particularly in terms of labour intensity and autonomy.
Significant differences in the impact of generative AI on countries at different stages of development are documented, which are linked to the respective economic structures and existing technological gaps. The authors find that around 5.5% of total employment in so-called highly developed countries is potentially affected by the automation effects of the technology, while the risk in so-called developing countries only affects around 0.4% of employment.
The potential impact of generative AI differs significantly between men and women: more than twice as many female employees are potentially affected by automation. This is due to the fact that women are overrepresented in the field of office work, among others, especially in so-called highly and medium-developed countries. The study concludes by stating that the socio-economic impact of generative AI largely depends on how the use and dissemination of AI is regulated. The authors argue in favour of designing policies that support an orderly, fair and consultative transition, where the perspective of workers, training and adequate social protection are crucial. Otherwise, there is a risk that only a few well-prepared countries and market participants will benefit from the new technology.
