Labour markets post ChatGPT

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important topic both within and outside the tech world, with the recent development of advanced AI language models like ChatGPT by OpenAI. While these models have demonstrated impressive capabilities and have been used to assist in tasks such as answering questions and generating text, there is concern about the potential impact of AI on the labour market. Precisely, it is feared that AI will take away human jobs. This paper examines the potential impact of AI on the labour market, which jobs are most at risk of being replaced, and which jobs are likely to remain relevant.

The Impact of AI on the Labour Market

As an AI language model, ChatGPT cannot cause job loss or create job opportunities. However, the increasing use of automation and AI technologies has led to concerns about job loss in some industries. While AI can automate specific tasks and reduce the need for human labour in some areas, it can also create new job opportunities in others. For example, AI and automation can help businesses become more efficient, increasing productivity and growth. This can create new job opportunities in data analysis, software engineering, and machine learning.

It is important to note that AI and automation cannot replace all human jobs. There are specific tasks and roles that require human skills and judgement, such as creative work, caregiving, and complex problem-solving. The impact of AI on the job market is difficult to predict, but it is clear that the adoption of AI and automation technologies will continue to impact the labour market in the coming years.

1. Customer Support: Customer support positions are relatively repetitive and follow scripts, making them a prime target for AI automation. Humans and AI can work together, with AI providing suggested answers, topics, or scripts as a first step. Then, humans can act as a backup when AI cannot handle a call (such as an angry caller). During this process, more data will be accumulated for the AI to exceed a human’s performance eventually.
2. Telephone Operators: AI language models like ChatGPT can also performthe tasks of telephone operators. Speech recognition is becoming more accurate and in-context dialog-oriented speech synthesis is becoming more natural. Also, these positions are being challenged as more people rely on messaging than phone conversations. This is a job category that will be entirely eliminatedover time.
3. Receptionists: Receptionists are also at risk of being replaced by AI language models. AI can handle scheduling appointments, answering basic questions, and directing calls.
4. Data Entry Clerks: Data entry clerks are at risk of being replaced by AI which can extract and input data more accurately and efficiently than humans.
5. Translators: AI language models can translate text with high accuracy, which could replace human translators. However, human translators will still needto interpret and translate language nuances that AI cannot understand.
6. Copywriters: AI language models can generate text for marketing and advertising purposes, potentially replacinghuman copywriters. However, there will still be a need for human creativity and the ability to write engaging content.
7. Journalists: AI language models can generate news articles and reports, potentially replacinghuman journalists. However, there will still be a need for human investigation, analysis, and storytelling skills.
8. Technical Writers: AI language models can create technical documentation and manuals, potentially replacinghuman technical writers. However, there will still be a need for human expertise and the ability to explain complex concepts clearly and concisely.
9. Travel Agents: AI language models can provide travel recommendations and book reservations, potentially replacing human travel agents. However, there will still be a need for human expertise and the ability to provide personalised advice and recommendations based on individual preferences and needs.
10. Telemarketing: With the increasing sophistication of AI, future calls will likely become more natural and AI will be able to use a customer’s profile, past purchases, and emotional recognition to find ways to appeal to them. This job category has no future as AI has almost no incremental cost, no complaints, and higher performance.

While AI may not be capable of replacing all human jobs, it is important to stay informed about the potential impact of AI on the labour market and to acquire the skills needed to remain relevant in the workforce.

Sources:

• Lee, K. (2021, May 17). The top 10 jobs that will be replaced by AI — and those that won’t. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3133660/top-10-jobs-will-be-replaced-ai-and-those-wont
• Marklein, M. B. (2020, November 4). The top 10 jobs that won’t be automated anytime soon. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/11/04/jobs-ai-wont-replace-human-workers/6070550002/
• OpenAI. (2021). GPT-3. https://openai.com/gpt-3/