Half of Finns fear AI will lead to mass unemployment, survey finds
Experts interviewed by Yle however argue that the concerns about the impact of AI on employment levels are exaggerated, at least in the short and medium term.
In Finland, a survey published in August finds that 51% of respondents are concerned that advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) may lead to widespread job losses. Younger individuals, aged below 35, appear to be the most apprehensive about AI's impact on the job market. However, experts interviewed by the Finnish broadcaster Yle suggest that fears of mass unemployment are likely overstated.
Finnish economist Ari Hyytinen asserts that despite evidence of AI reducing the need for certain jobs, there is no indication that this will result in nationwide unemployment. It's also noted that AI's effects primarily manifest as automation of specific tasks, rather than complete job replacement. Special researcher Ramin Izadi of the VATT Institute for Economic Research posits that technology firms and AI leaders' predictions of job losses are likely inaccurate.
He emphasizes that AI functions by automating particular tasks, not by eliminating entire jobs. Both experts agree that AI will not trigger mass unemployment in the near future, but acknowledge the difficulty in forecasting its long-term effects due to the rapid pace of technological advancements.
Written by urgent.news from Yle News Finland's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
