According to the latest survey, half of British adults are concerned about how artificial intelligence (AI) will affect their jobs. A survey conducted by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) showed that 51% of 2,600 respondents expressed concerns that AI could lead to job losses or changes in working conditions. Notably, nearly two-thirds (62%) of young workers aged 25 to 34 expressed concern about the impact of AI.
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With several large employers, such as BT, Amazon, and Microsoft, recently stating that advances in AI technology may lead to layoffs, unions are calling for a "major shift" in how the UK adopts new technologies. Amid an economic slowdown, the UK's job market is under pressure, with the official unemployment rate now at 4.7%, the highest in four years. Nevertheless, most economists believe that the rise in unemployment is not directly related to the acceleration of AI investment.
TUC believes that AI technology, if used properly, can benefit workers and improve the quality of public services. To this end, the union calls on the government to involve workers and unions in the process of gradually introducing AI technology into the workplace, to protect jobs and provide training for workers replaced by AI. In the survey, 50% of respondents said they would like to participate in decisions regarding the application of AI in the workplace and the entire economy, while only 17% opposed it.
In TUC's plan, when the government invests billions of pounds in AI research, it should attach certain conditions to ensure that new technologies do not lead to worker unemployment. Additionally, the union demands that companies invest in employees' skills and training, improve employee salaries and working conditions, and give workers more say in company decisions, including allowing workers to serve on company boards.
TUC warns that without appropriate measures, allowing workers to decide when and how to use AI could lead to "serious inequality," worsen working conditions, and increase social unrest. The union also emphasizes the need to strengthen the UK's social security and skills system to help workers who face job risks due to AI undergo retraining.
