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An artificial intelligence expert and venture capitalist predicts automation will cause major changes in the workforce.
Speaking to CBS News’ Scott Pelley in an interview for 60 Minutes on Sunday, Kai Fu Lee said that he believes 40% of the world’s jobs will be replaced by robots capable of automating tasks. He said that both blue collar and white collar professions will be affected, but he believes those who drive for a living could be most affected.
“Chauffeurs, truck drivers, anyone who does driving for a living—their jobs will be disrupted more in the 15-25 year time frame,” he said in the interview. “Many jobs that seem a little bit complex, chef, waiter, a lot of things will become automated.”
Lee’s comments are not necessarily new. Many who support artificial intelligence and automation believe that they can fundamentally change the workforce. But many of those people also believe that while some jobs could be affected, humans will find new opportunities surrounding artificial intelligence and take on new professions.
A growing number of detractors—including Elon Musk, who has warned about the power of artificial intelligence—worry that automation could disrupt entire communities and disproportionately affect low-income workers.
Still, many, including Lee, believe there’s no slowing down artificial intelligence and its impact on society.
A.I. Expert Kai Fu Lee: 40% of Jobs Will Be Lost to AI, Robots | Fortune
A Chinese venture capitalist spoiling to reap the profits from laying off millions of American workers isn't the lone voice predicting 40% of workers to lose their jobs. In fact, it seems as if there's a consensus around this 40% figure, which was echoed a year ago by at an economic forum in Europe-
It's become clichéd to compare our current tech revolution to the industrial revolution, and assuage people not to worry, after all, those horse and buggies were phased out and we managed to survive! But I'm not sure that adequately covers what we're going to deal with here in America.
10 million truck drivers are going to find themselves our of work in 15 years, according to current predictions. Sending that many people into unemployment could produce tragic results. Also, the country is more than double the size that it was when the industrial revolution phased out many types of workers. How can a country of 350 million fractured and divided people dealing with massive unemployment manage to coalesce into a cohesive nation, when we aren't even one now?
We've added over 100 million people from mostly low-skilled countries to our population since 1980. Might we regret that when 40% of jobs disappear?