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As artificial intelligence (AI) systems continue to advance, the task of safeguarding British jobs becomes increasingly challenging, according to Ian Hogarth, the head of the UK government’s AI task force. Hogarth emphasized that automation would inevitably lead to more jobs being replaced by AI technology and called for a global reassessment of work patterns.
He acknowledged that there would be winners and losers on a global scale in terms of job distribution as a result of AI adoption. This week, BBC News is focusing on AI, exploring its impact on our lives and the potential consequences it may have in the near future.
Instances of job losses due to companies opting for AI tools over human labor have already been reported. For example, BT recently announced plans to cut approximately 10,000 staff members by the end of the decade due to technological advancements. However, some experts argue that these developments will also create new jobs that currently do not exist, similar to the emergence of roles driven by the internet.
A Goldman Sachs report released earlier this year highlighted that 60% of current jobs did not exist in 1940.
Addressing the need to capture the benefits of AI while minimizing potential risks, Hogarth, a tech entrepreneur and AI investor explained that the task force’s goal is to assist the government in understanding the risks associated with cutting-edge AI systems and holding companies accountable for their use. He expressed concerns about potential harms caused by AI, such as wrongful arrests in law enforcement or the generation of malicious computer code leading to increased cybercrime.
Hogarth also acknowledged the warnings from experts regarding AI’s potential as an existential threat, urging that such concerns should not be dismissed, despite differing opinions within the AI community.
While remaining cautious about potential risks, Hogarth emphasized the importance of recognizing the positive aspects of AI technologies. Notably, AI tools have made significant strides in healthcare, aiding in the identification of new antibiotics, helping individuals with brain damage regain movement, and detecting early symptoms of diseases.
Hogarth shared his own experience of developing a tool capable of identifying signs of breast cancer in scans.
The AI task force has been allocated an initial budget of £100 million to oversee AI safety research. Hogarth did not disclose how the funds would be utilized, but he indicated that success in his role would be marked by the average person in the UK experiencing the benefits of AI technology.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made AI a key priority, with the aim of positioning the UK as a global hub for the sector. OpenAI, the organization behind the popular chatbot ChatGPT, recently announced that its first international office would be in London. Similarly, data firm Palantir plans to establish its headquarters in the city.
However, the UK faces several challenges in solidifying its position as a key player in this lucrative and fast-moving sector. AI start-up founder Emma McClenaghan highlighted the difficulty of accessing specialized hardware and expertise, as well as funding limitations. McClenaghan’s company, Gensys Engine, has encountered delays in obtaining grants to purchase GPUs (graphics processing units), which are essential for AI development. She noted the disparity between the availability of resources in the UK compared to the US, exemplified by Elon Musk’s reported purchase of 10,000 GPUs.
Addressing the issue, Hogarth proposed viewing access to GPUs as part of a national infrastructure, akin to road networks or electricity cables, to ensure equitable distribution among companies, regardless of financial capacity.
Despite the challenges ahead, Hogarth remains optimistic that the UK can establish itself as a key player in the AI revolution, emphasizing his commitment to the task at hand.
“I don’t think we’re too late,” he said. “I wouldn’t have taken the job if I thought we couldn’t make a significant impact.”