AI will revolutionize the world of work. The development of artificial intelligence will have consequences for 60% of jobs in advanced economies, underlined Sunday the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, in an interview with AFP, also expressing concern of the risk of dropping out for the poorest countries.
“Around the world, 40% of jobs will be affected. And the more skilled you are in a job, the more this will be the case. So for advanced economies, and certain emerging countries, 60% of jobs will be affected,” she declared. According to her, the impacts mentioned are not necessarily negative, because it can also result in “an increase in your income”.
“How to share productivity gains? »
The data comes from a report released by the IMF ahead of the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos, which begin on Monday in the Swiss Alpine resort. According to the report, AI could accelerate salary inequalities, with a particularly negative effect on the middle classes, while employees who already have high incomes could see their salaries “increase more than in proportion” to the productivity gains that AI would allow them to ensure.
“It is certain that there will be an impact but it may be different, whether it leads to the disappearance of your job or on the contrary its improvement. So, what to do with those who will be affected and how to share the productivity gains, what can we do to be better prepared? “, asked Kristalina Georgieva.
AI between “fear” and “huge opportunity”
According to the IMF, Singapore, the United States and Canada are the countries that have been best prepared so far for the integration of AI. But, as the Director General emphasizes, “we must focus on lower income countries”. “We must move quickly, allowing them to take advantage of the opportunities offered by AI. The real question will be to put aside fears linked to AI to focus on how to get the best benefit from it for everyone,” insisted the head of the IMF.
Especially since in a context of slowing down the pace of global growth, “we desperately need” elements capable of boosting productivity. “AI can be scary, but it can also be a huge opportunity for everyone,” concluded Kristalina Georgieva.