Experts defend AI amid job losses

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Recent data shows that while artificial intelligence (AI) is replacing some jobs, these headline numbers don’t tell the full story.
A ResumeBuilder survey found that 37% of companies say AI replaced workers in 2023, and 44% expect layoffs from AI efficiency in 2024. However, experts told CNBC the technology has a broader impact.
“There are still so many traditional organizations and small businesses that do not embrace technology the way that some of the larger companies do,” said Julia Toothacre, a career strategist at ResumeBuilder.
Rather than outright job replacement, AI enables “workers to focus more on integrating or structuring or defining what the task-based work is”, said Marc Cenedella of Leet Resumes and Ladders.
“The statistics marking and predicting AI-induced layoffs reflect fear more than reality,” says Alex Hood of project management software company Asana.
But workers must develop new skills, Cenedella warns. “If you learned some software five years ago, that’s not enough. You’ve got to learn new software today.”
Hood advises experimenting with AI to understand its capabilities. “The best thing that employers can do is give folks the ability to understand what the art of the possible is through individual experimentation using AI today.”
Goldman Sachs predicts AI advancements could jeopardize 300 million jobs globally due to automation while tech billionaire Elon Musk says AI will end need for jobs, but many believe human labor will still be necessary for many roles.