In a candid address to tech and business leaders, Liz Kendall, the UK's Technology Secretary, has acknowledged that the increasing deployment of artificial intelligence will inevitably result in job losses across various sectors. Speaking at Bloomberg's headquarters in London, Kendall emphasised the need for transparency, stating, "I want to level with the public. Some jobs will go."
Addressing Public Concerns Over AI Impact
Kendall declined to specify the exact number of redundancies that AI might cause but highlighted particular concerns in fields such as law and finance, where graduate entry roles are at risk. She reassured the audience that while some positions will disappear, others will be created in their place, though she admitted she is not complacent about the net employment effects. This warning echoes recent comments from London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who cautioned that without proactive measures, AI could become a "weapon of mass destruction of jobs."
Ambitious Training Initiatives to Mitigate Job Losses
To help the workforce adapt to these impending changes, Kendall unveiled ambitious plans to train up to 10 million British workers in basic AI skills by 2030. This initiative includes members of the cabinet and aims to position Britain as the fastest AI adoption country in the G7. She described this effort as the biggest single plan to upskill the nation since Harold Wilson's Open University, involving partnerships with companies like Multiverse, founded by Euan Blair, and a new programme to support women entering tech roles.
Kendall also announced the establishment of a "future of work unit" within the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, which will involve collaboration with trades unions and business leaders. She expressed optimism about the transformative potential of AI, stating, "We are on the cusp of great change – an industrial revolution taking place in a decade. We have barely begun to see how this technology will transform all our lives – I believe for the better."
Government Partnerships and Criticisms
The government's approach has faced criticism for its reliance on US AI companies, whose models could soon compete with British white-collar workers. In response, it was revealed that a $1 million donation from Meta, Mark Zuckerberg's company, is being allocated to a government initiative focused on building AI systems for defence, national security, and transport.
Additionally, Anthropic, a US AI startup valued at $350 billion, has been selected to develop a dedicated assistant tool for public services on gov.uk, starting with a model to provide career advice to jobseekers, offered free of charge. The government also maintains a memorandum of understanding with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.
Kendall concluded by reaffirming Labour's commitment, saying, "We won't leave people to struggle on their own," underscoring a focus on adaptation rather than resistance to technological shifts in the labour market.
