AI, fear of employment? | The echoes

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It fuels as many dreams as it does fears. Confined until recently to laboratories or relatively discreet in apps and other chatbots, artificial intelligence (AI) has made a sensational entry into the general public with the ChatGPT conversational robot from the firm OpenAI. AI is one of the main themes of the seventh edition of VivaTech, which takes place in Paris until June 17. Elon Musk, the boss of SpaceX, and Yann Le Cun, head of research in AI from Meta, even came to cross paths with their vision of the future of a technology that has already established itself.

Regarding the world of work, many are asking questions about the announced revolution. Faced with fears, Sam Altman, the boss of OpenAI, went on a world tour which ped through Paris at the end of May. To reure but also to prevent the temptation of too much regulation. European Union produced in April world’s first bill framing artificial intelligence.

Mixed feeling

On the risk of mive unemployment, Sam Altman considers that if we look at historical precedents, two generations will be enough to adapt . As was the case with the transition from the horse to the automobile. He does not hide that the change will be profound but affirms that it will be slow. The professions most exposed in the medium term concern, in the current state of progress, customer relations or writing with low added value in the field of marketing.

According to a barometer by the Boston Consulting Group, which surveyed nearly 13,000 people from 18 countries, more than a third (36%) believe that their profession will disappear for the benefit of AI in the next ten years. A figure that rises to 42% in France. But on their sentiment towards the technology, 52% of respondents are somewhat optimistic about the overall impact of AI. Even if the gap is widening between management and employees.

La Story is a podcast from Les Echos presented by Pierrick Fay. This episode was recorded in June 2023. Editor-in-chief: Clémence Lemaistre. Guests: Vinciane Beauchene (ociate Director of Boston Consulting Group) and Florian Dèbes (journalist in the Tech-Media department of “Echos”). Directed by: Willy Ganne. Music: Théo Boulenger. Graphic identity: Upian. Photo: Shutterstock. Sounds: “The Creator” (2023), “The Simpsons” (1989), Metallica, CYRILmp4, “Robocop” (1987), “RRRrrrr!!! (2003), CBS News, “Elysium” (2013).