South Africa’s AI strategy must be pro-employment
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms human labour, South Africa faces a critical choice: allow AI to displace workers or actively steer its adoption to augment human capabilities, protect jobs and drive inclusive economic growth.
South Africa stands at a crossroads regarding artificial intelligence's impact on employment. The country must decide whether AI will displace workers or enhance human capabilities, driving inclusive economic growth. While AI will undoubtedly transform the economy, the question is not whether it will happen, but how it will benefit working people or lead to displacement for short-term profits.
Two paths lie before us: an anti-employment model that accelerates productivity through automation or a pro-employment model that leverages AI to augment human abilities.
The AI revolution differs from the Industrial Revolution, which took place over a century with gradual job losses and time for reskilling. In contrast, AI advances rapidly, with businesses' use of generative AI increasing from 33% in 2023 to 79% in 2025. Unfortunately, the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report estimates that AI could destroy 92 million jobs by 2030 while creating only 170 million new jobs, primarily in big data-center construction and software development.
This projection has already been proven incorrect, as AI starts to perform junior software developer tasks more affordably, leading to a rapid decline in entry-level jobs.
South Africa's unemployment rate stands at 34% among working-age individuals and 60% for those under 25. The country cannot afford AI to worsen unemployment and eliminate entry-level jobs for young people. Therefore, South Africa faces a critical choice: allow AI to displace workers or actively shape its adoption to augment human capabilities, protect jobs, and foster inclusive economic growth.
The good news is that the rise of AI can be contested and shaped. AI industry regulations, proposals, and rising global awareness of steering AI towards augmenting human labor rather than displacing it offer hope for a pro-employment model. By regulating AI adoption through societal stakeholders, such as governments and businesses, and incorporating social contract elements like incentivizing pro-employment AI innovation through laws and self-regulation, South Africa can ensure that AI adoption benefits working people and strengthens the economy in the long run.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
