AI's impact on different jobs across the labor market

How artificial intelligence (AI) will impact different industries and the labour market at large has been a prime arena for debate and speculation since the uptake and accelerated application of AI took effect in everyday and work settings. In this opinion article, experts in the field share various perspective on the extent to which AI technology has the potential to cause widespread disruption or bring major benefits to existing forms of work.

Examples of where AI can help workforces include reducing the administrative burden on clinicians and allowing them to focus more on improving the patient experience and welfare. Similarly, AI-powered diagnostic and treatment tools, such as those developed by Regina Barzilay at the MIT Jameel Clinic, can shift late-disease treatment to prevention and early-stage interventions. Key AI-powered tools designed by Regina include Sybil, a diagnostic tool that can detect lung cancer risk in patients up to six years in advance, and Mirai, also an AI-trained tool which can screen accurately for breast cancer risk, aiding early detection.

Though experts recognise that issues and hurdles remain as to the safe and steady roll out of AI, especially in medical settings, they ultimately conclude that the technology has a greater potential to assist in tasks and provide an additional layer of support to help many humans work better and faster, as opposed to taking away jobs. Researchers argue it is important to consider not only the risks of AI, but also the potential benefits and opportunities it presents.