Topics / Artificial intelligence
Should governments act now to protect workers from AI automation?
As AI systems take on more cognitive tasks, people disagree about how far and how fast this will change work, and about whether UK governments should act now (and if so, how) or wait for clearer evidence. The disagreement mixes contested forecasts with differing values about risk, fairness, worker voice and economic growth.
Positions
- Yes, prepare for large job losses: AI can do cognitive work that earlier technologies could not, so this time could be different: job losses may be faster and broader than in past waves. Governments should prepare now with stronger safety nets, retraining at scale and options such as a universal basic income.
- Focus on retraining, as with past technology: Past waves of automation destroyed some jobs but created more new ones. Governments should help people move into new work through retraining and skills support, without assuming mass unemployment.
- Give workers a say over how AI is used: Workers should have a say over how AI is introduced at work. Employers should be required to consult and bargain with workers before jobs are automated, and the use of AI to monitor and manage workers should be limited.
- Do not intervene early: Forecasts of AI job losses are highly uncertain, and rules made now would slow useful adoption and harm competitiveness. Governments should act if and when real problems show up.