AI Jobquake: Pros and Cons of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been the talk of the town of late, with many countries joining the race to make a mark in this new technology that is advancing at a breakneck speed. Earlier this year, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek sent ripples across the globe to become the most downloaded free app on the Apple App Store in the United States by beating OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The ripples were short-lived, and the dust has settled down, but not the AI rat race, as the technology will eventually become an integral part of our everyday life. It has the potential to change lives and transform almost every sector, from business to healthcare to agriculture, by significantly saving time to solve problems and enhancing efficiency. It has also caused apprehensions, particularly because of the potential to change the job market landscape, which could lead to job displacement. The fear is not unprecedented, though. According to experts, the global workforce is expected to undergo a drastic transformation over the next couple of decades, with automation likely to consume a significant portion of the current workforce. According to the World Economic Forum, around 14 million jobs could be lost globally by 2027 due to work displacement caused by the implementation of AI. And experts say some jobs are more vulnerable to the change. For instance, jobs that require repetitive tasks like data entry, data acquisition and analysis, customer service, etc., face a higher chance of falling first. According to a study by Goldman Sachs, occupations at the highest risk of being displaced by AI are “computer programmers, accountants and auditors, legal and administrative assistants, customer service representatives, telemarketers, proofreaders and copy editors, and credit analysts”, though the impact will largely depend on development and adaptation of the technology.

Meanwhile, studies also say that jobs that require human judgement, emotional intelligence and empathy, like teaching, nursing, social work, etc., face the least risk of being impacted by AI. Some sectors are likely to be affected more than the others, but change is imminent; hence, the need for keeping abreast with the latest development through retraining, focusing on critical thinking and targeting AI-resilient sectors to withstand the storm. The good news is AI has the potential to change farming in a positive way. Amid growing pressure on the global food system due to climate change, increase in population and other factors, experts are of the opinion that AI can change the equation by helping farmers make data-driven decisions, take online training programmes, and access early weather predictions. This can significantly boost yield, reduce costs, and improve crop management. As a predominantly agrarian economy, Nagaland can leverage AI to enhance productivity. This approach will not only address the unemployment problem but also help the state achieve its goal of self-reliance.