– Some companies are implementing AI and new technologies, leading to job cuts and pauses in hiring
– Workers are concerned about job loss due to AI adoption, with some already losing their jobs
– The AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium aims to address job role impacts, provide training recommendations, and support an AI-enabled workforce, but industry consortiums need to deliver more than vague promises and reports in order to allay fears and ensure real, tangible recommendations and actions.
The fear of AI taking over jobs is becoming a reality for some workers, with companies like UPS and IBM already implementing technologies that have led to layoffs. A survey showed that 25% of business professionals expect job losses due to AI adoption, and some estimate that 4,000 jobs have been lost to AI. Managers are even hoping to replace workers with AI.
To combat these fears, the AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium, led by Cisco with support from other tech giants, aims to analyze the impact of AI on specific job roles and recommend training programs. The Consortium plans to evaluate 56 ICT job roles in the US and Europe and provide training recommendations for affected roles. However, the Consortium’s long-term plans are not yet clear beyond releasing a report this summer.
Despite promises from companies like IBM and Intel to upskill millions of workers in AI in the coming years, the demand for AI roles is actually decreasing. The Consortium emphasizes the need for upskilling and reskilling for technology roles likely to be impacted by AI, but it remains to be seen if their efforts will result in real, tangible recommendations that address the needs of both businesses and workers. The tech industry will need to fulfill its promises and take concrete action to shape the future of work.