Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the few technologies that experienced widespread adoption relatively quickly. While it intended to support people in their daily tasks, it soon became a threat for most working professionals. It raised serious questions about human job security in the future.
As experts conduct their research, it is estimated that up to 30% of U.S. jobs can be significantly affected by AI in some capacity by 2030.
The World Economic Forum predicts that AI and robotics will displace nearly 85 million jobs by 2025 alone. With constant advancements in AI models, this technology is shaping the global work economy like we’ve never experienced before. If you feel clueless about what lies ahead for your future, this article will give you a glimpse of what society may look like if AI takes over all the jobs.
Jobs Already Affected by AI
You don’t have to wait for the future to witness AI taking human jobs, as it’s already being done. According to a survey, 3 in 10 companies replaced their workers with AI in 2024, and more replacements are expected in the coming years. If your work involves repetitive, rule-based tasks and minimal need for emotional intelligence, it may soon get automated with AI.
While AI can potentially impact many jobs, the most vulnerable to automation include data entry clerks, telemarketers, receptionists, customer service representatives, retail cashiers, proofreaders, market research analysts, etc.
Augmentation and Automation
AI’s impact on the work landscape is inevitable. It will either automate or augment jobs. Jobs involving routine tasks or solving basic customer service queries can easily be automated using AI. Up to 45% of such jobs can be automated using AI, and nearly 60% of all professions can see at least 30% of their constituent activities getting automated.
However, when it comes to complex jobs, AI can augment human skills instead of entirely replacing them. For example, it won’t entirely replace human doctors but help them diagnose diseases faster by analyzing medical images and patient data.
Two Possible Outcomes
People are contemplating two possible outcomes of this situation. An optimistic outcome includes AI taking over all menial jobs, leaving humans free to engage in more fulfilling and rewarding tasks. It will create a society where everyone is happy, productive, and prosperous.
The pessimistic outcome indicates a future in which people whose jobs were taken by AI find it challenging to transition into well-paying jobs. It may result in a significant number of individuals becoming unemployed or under-employed, downgrading their overall quality of life.
Rise of Universal Basic Income (UBI)
Society can witness the rise of universal basic income to prevent affected people from slipping into poverty. It is a government program to ensure every citizen receives a fixed amount of money regularly to cover their basic needs, such as food, rent, etc. The idea of a universal basic income is gaining momentum in the U.S. as automation replaces workers across different sectors.
While no such program is available to the general public, some localities and non-profit organizations have launched pilot projects to test its viability. If AI takes over all jobs, it may be introduced to provide necessary financial support to those affected.
Evolution of Human Purpose
One of the most fascinating changes in the new society will be people’s renewed sense of purpose. For centuries, work has been central to human identity. McKinsey’s research confirms this by highlighting how 70% of the surveyed employees believe their work defines their sense of purpose.
If AI takes over their jobs or people work in AI-dominated workforces, they may begin exploring a newer purpose through different avenues. Some may turn to community service, while others may consider philosophical pursuits or artistic expressions to find their renewed purpose. It may bring a renaissance in human creativity and social connections.
Introduction of Technological Governance
As AI systems become central to societal functioning and performing all jobs, governments worldwide will have to introduce new forms of governance to safeguard human interests. You can expect to see AI governance in society to ensure safety, fairness, and respect for human rights.
40+ countries have already adopted the OECD AI Principles to focus on responsible stewardship of trustworthy AI. Companies are also establishing ethics boards and communities to oversee AI initiatives, ensuring they align with societal values and ethical standards.
Cultural and Artistic Renaissance
With AI taking over jobs, people will have more free time to dive inward and explore their true selves. Some may fear the idle time AI-induced job displacements may bring as it can introduce them to boredom, which isn’t perceived positively. In reality, boredom is good and provides several benefits.
It provides the much-needed downtime to help humans relieve their minds of the cognitive congestion that builds up over time. Downtime encourages productivity and creativity by replenishing the brain’s stores of attention and motivation. This boredom or downtime can help people achieve their highest levels of performance, bringing a remarkable cultural and artistic renaissance.
Psychological Impact on People’s Minds
When people spend most of their lives working to earn and lead a respectful life, losing their jobs to AI will have negative consequences on their minds. A group of psychologists and sociologists studied nearly 500 unemployed families and found concerning insights. They noticed that unemployed people had a disrupted sense of time and experienced lower activity levels.
Most became lonely, passive, hopeless, isolated, yet prone to bursts of violence. If a sizable population loses their job to AI and becomes unemployed for an extended period, they may experience similar psychological effects, which won’t create a very happy and liveable society.
