Benefits of artificial intelligence need to be shared more broadly

At a panel discussion in the European Parliament, the ILO discussed artificial intelligence and the opportunities and challenges it brings.

News | 20 March 2019
Ekkehard Ernst, Chief of the ILO Macroeconomic Policy and Jobs Unit, joined a panel debate entitled “Is artificial intelligence a human rights issue?”, organized by the European Parliament.

AI has many applications, but automation is probably the best known. In recent years, areas including research, science, agriculture and transport have seen a proliferation of applications in AI.

AI has the potential to create large productivity gains, including in low-skilled sectors, which could improve the work and lives of people in development countries. For example, AI offers smartphone tools that help farmers to improve their farming techniques.

The biggest challenge however is linked to inequality. The shift towards more technology means that the labour market demand will shift towards higher skilled people. The skills demand is increasing in emerging and advanced economies, whereas in developing countries, there is less demand for these skills, creating huge inequalities.

As countries develop, people typically move up from low to middle to high-skilled jobs. Over the last 20 years, due to automation and in part because of AI, the middle-skilled jobs have been wiped out. People performing such jobs usually don’t have the ability to move to high-skilled jobs. Instead, they move to low-skilled jobs, which exacerbates inequality. This phenomenon is likely to accelerate.

“The challenges of AI need to be dealt with heads on, and the benefits need to be shared more broadly,” concluded Mr Ernst.