Rebecca Ebony Goulbourne
Artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise in many aspects of society, from the growing use of ChatGPT to new automated medical advances. However, more recently, public discourse has turned to the damaging effects that AI may have on the already marginalised.
The AI Wave
Artificial intelligence, a term coined in a 1956 conference at Dartmouth College, is an increasingly popular topic of conversation, especially when it comes to the ethics of AI. In particular, critics warn that its use within public sectors such as education and employment has the potential to “kill off jobs“, widening the already disproportionate wealth gap between the upper and lower classes.
Worryingly, when combined with the ongoing cost of living crisis, the rise of AI could bring further damage to the livelihoods and financial health of workers, especially those who identify as working class.
“Workers within creative industries are also at risk of losing employment or, more drastically, being entirely replaced.”
According to the BBC, the rise of AI could wipe out a total of 300 million jobs within the US and Europe, with those affected likely to be workers on lower-paid salaries, such as grocery workers, counter clerks or cleaners. Meanwhile, workers within creative industries are also at risk of losing employment or, more drastically, being entirely replaced.
The UK Government and Artificial Intelligence
It is unsurprising that the UK government and the Conservative party are keen to financially invest in AI since AI’s financial contribution to the UK economy and private tech businesses will be phenomenal.
In 2021, the UK government announced its 10-year plan to make the UK a “global superpower“. One component of this supposed strengthening is artificial intelligence, with the UK government set to further fund AI research with an additional £54 million, beginning in 2023.
An industry that is worth around 100 billion US dollars, it is arguably one which caters to money-hungry individuals, who are perhaps oblivious towards or uninterested in the consequences AI may have on the general public.
“The persistence to push the UK as a leading AI powerhouse continues, allowing the fears of crashing employment rates to spike.”
Although the government is set on providing rules and a series of ethical practices surrounding AI usage, the persistence to push the UK as a leading AI powerhouse continues, leaving the public with concern about its potential impact on their livelihoods.
AI and Education
From a more personal perspective, as someone with a working-class background, the rise of AI within the education sector is another cause for concern.
Industries which are likely to flourish during the AI wave include those which are highly paid, highly trained or academically competitive. For those who are unable to attend higher education institutions for personal or financial reasons, the fear of struggling to reach such well-paid and competitive jobs is heightened. AI benefits parts of society that are already thriving and leaves those on the outside still struggling to get a look in.
Furthermore, the rise of AI risks an increase in education inequality, with students receiving lower results or biases due to AI-led algorithms.
The Future of the Working Class
With this considered, it becomes important to question where the introduction of AI will leave the working classes when it comes to job prospects.
It may be fair to suggest that the imposition of AI may primarily lead to the benefit of wealthy upper classes and those who are employed in highly-paid, specialist roles. Oftentimes, these positions systemically exclude members of the working classes.
“We should be concerned that working-class jobs, which are often the more repetitive of untrained roles, will cease to exist in the coming years if AI continues to take the UK by storm.”
The BBC’s report on AI growth concludes that it will lead to a significant impact on roles within several sectors. For instance, 46 per cent of tasks in administrative work will be impacted, and 44 per cent in the legal sector, whereas only 6% of tasks in construction and four per cent in maintenance are predicted to feel an impact.
We should be concerned that working-class jobs, which are often the more repetitive of untrained roles, will cease to exist in the coming years if AI continues to take the UK by storm. The events which will follow, meanwhile, have the potential to be detrimental to the overall health, well-being and financial stability of the working class.
Through their unreserved acceptance of artificial intelligence, the Conservative Party, and those that share its ideology, once again unveil their dismissal of the poorer classes of the United Kingdom, effectively continuing to exclude them from society.
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Featured image courtesy of Cottonbro studio on Pexels. No changes were made to this image. Image licence found here.
Rebecca Goulbourne
Undergrad English student with an intense passion for storytelling, writing, and critical thinking.
Artificial Intelligence,as it’s states it’s artificial and would not be practical in all area’s of life. Man in general now are trying to play God, technology and progress is good but it has pros and cons. Soon and it’s happening humans are being mipulated and restricted already. Watch that film Demolition Man ,need I say anymore.