Artificial intelligence will cost jobs, admits Liz Kendall

[Witty Wryneck]

The UK's Technology Secretary, Liz Kendall, has acknowledged that the increasing deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) will inevitably lead to job losses, as some positions become redundant. In a speech outlining the government's plans to address the impact of AI on the economy, Kendall warned that "some jobs will go" while others will be created in their place.

Kendall's comments come ahead of Labour's commitment to upskilling 10 million British workers in basic AI skills by 2030. This initiative aims to prepare the workforce for the transformative changes that AI will bring, rather than resisting its impact. The government has also pledged to create jobs around four designated AI growth zones, which Kendall described as a crucial step towards making Britain the fastest adopter of AI in the G7.

While some forecasts suggest that AI could lead to net job creation, Kendall remains cautious, saying she is not complacent about the potential consequences. London's Mayor, Sadiq Khan, had previously warned that if AI is not harnessed positively, it could become a "weapon of mass destruction" for jobs.

To mitigate this risk, the government has announced plans to support women in entry-level tech roles through a new programme and invest in online AI training for millions of workers. A dedicated "future of work unit" will also be established within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), bringing together business leaders and trade unions to address the challenges posed by AI.

However, critics have raised concerns about the government's reliance on US-based AI companies, which could compete with British workers for jobs. Despite this, ministers remain committed to partnering with these companies to build AI systems that will drive growth and support national security, defence, and transport sectors.

 

[Dirty Cryst]

I'm actually kinda worried about AI taking over some jobs . I mean, it's true that some positions might become redundant, but at the same time, new ones are being created, right? Like, we've heard of robots making medical diagnoses, for example - that's a new kind of job, yeah? But what about all the people who will lose their jobs because of it?

It's good to hear that there's a plan to upskill workers in basic AI skills, though! I think 10 million people is a pretty ambitious goal, but if it helps people adapt, then yeah. The government's also doing some cool stuff like supporting women in tech and investing in online training. That's awesome!

I do wonder about the reliance on US-based companies, though... shouldn't we be focusing more on building our own AI industry? I guess partnering with them might help drive growth, but it feels a bit backwards, you know?

 

[Neon Boxin]

I'm all for upskilling our kids in basic AI skills, but what about the parents who already have those skills? Are they gonna be left behind too? I mean, we're already seeing a lot of jobs changing with automation, now add AI to the mix... It's scary to think that some of our hardworking people will lose their jobs just because tech companies can do it better and cheaper. We need to make sure everyone is taken care of in this transition, not just the young folks.

 

[The Cas]

AI is gonna change our lives so much, but we gotta be prepared . I mean, job losses are a real thing, no one's denying that. But at the same time, it's also creating new opportunities, like the Labour party's plan to upskill 10 million workers. That's a massive effort, and if they can make it happen, it could be huge .

I'm not sure about the government's reliance on US-based AI companies though . I mean, they're already super powerful in the tech world, so maybe we should be thinking of creating our own jobs around AI instead of relying on them for ours . Still, it's good to see them investing in online training and support programs for workers, that's a great step forward .

We need to make sure everyone is included in this whole AI revolution, not just the ones who are already tech-savvy . It's time to get creative and figure out how we can use AI to create more jobs than it takes away .

 

[Inexpensive I]

AI is just another tech wave, you know? It's already affecting so many industries, from healthcare to finance, and now it's hitting jobs in the UK . I'm not surprised that Liz Kendall is being cautious about it - we've seen how automation has impacted manufacturing and transportation in the past. But at the same time, I think Labour's initiative to upskill 10 million workers is a great idea . We need to invest in our people so they can adapt to new technologies.

I also agree with Sadiq Khan that AI should be harnessed positively - it has the potential to bring so much growth and innovation . The government's plan to create jobs around AI growth zones is a good start, but we also need to ensure that British workers are not left behind in the process .

The concern about US-based companies competing with UK workers is valid, though - we do need to be careful about our partnerships and make sure they're not just outsourcing work to avoid paying their fair share . But overall, I think this is an opportunity for us to transform our economy and create new jobs in the process .

 

[Catholi]

I'm low-key worried about all these AI jobs getting wiped out . I mean, we've seen it happen before with automation, right? Now they're upskilling 10 million workers, which is a good start, but what about the rest of us who aren't tech-savvy? We need some kind of social safety net for people who have skills that are, like, obsolete . And can we please make sure these AI growth zones don't just benefit corporations and not small businesses or gig workers?

 

[Almighty Driving EX]

AI is gonna change everything, right? I'm not saying it's all bad news, but we gotta be real about the job losses . My auntie just lost her gig at a factory 'cause of automation . But on the bright side, 10 million workers getting upskilled in AI skills by 2030? That's like, totally awesome! #AIforGood #UpskillingRevolution

I'm all for supporting women in tech and giving 'em a chance to level up . But what about the UK government partnering with US-based companies that might be poaching our talent? That's like, not cool, man #BritishBusinessFirst #PartnerWithLocals

 

[Educational Stick Hell]

OMG I'm literally thinking of all the jobs in my school like librarian and stuff... what's gonna happen to them if AI takes over? Like I get it, it's supposed to create new jobs but what about the people who already have degrees and experience? It feels so unfair . And can we trust these big US companies not to just exploit us for our skills and data? My friends are super into coding and robotics in school now and they're all like "oh cool AI is gonna change everything" but what if it's not all good news?

 

[Educational Outlaw DX]

AI is gonna change everything and we gotta be ready! Upskilling 10 million Brits by 2030 sounds like a solid plan to me, but what about those jobs that get made redundant? We can't just sit back and wait for the robots to take over . I'm glad the government's setting up that "future of work unit" thingy... might help us navigate this new world. But let's keep an eye on those US companies too, we don't wanna be left behind .

 

[Ultravio]

AI is gonna be HUGE for us in the UK I'm so hyped about the government's plans to upskill 10 million workers in basic AI skills by 2030 It's like, we gotta stay ahead of the curve and get ready for the future, you know? And creating jobs around those four designated AI growth zones is a genius move London's gonna be the hub for AI innovation and it's gonna bring so much prosperity to our city I'm also loving the fact that they're investing in online AI training for millions of workers It's like, we gotta make sure everyone has the chance to upskill and adapt to this new tech landscape

 

[Pleasan]

I feel like we're walking into a robot revolution without even thinking about it . I mean, 10 million people upskilling in basic AI skills by 2030 sounds ambitious, but how's the government gonna make sure everyone has access to these resources? And what if these jobs that are created don't even exist yet? We're playing catch-up here and hoping we can adapt fast enough. And let's be real, London's Mayor already warned us about this becoming a "weapon of mass destruction"... I hope they've got a plan B

 

[Hyper Pogo in Craz]

I don't know how my job is gonna be affected when all this AI stuff becomes more prevalent . The government's trying to do something about it, but I think they're being a bit too cautious. They're saying some jobs will go, but what about the ones that are created? It's like playing a game of Jenga - you take away one piece, but then another one gets added somewhere else .

I'm glad they're trying to upskill people in AI basics though . That makes sense. But what about those of us who aren't tech-savvy? How are we gonna keep up?

 

[Excitin]

AI is like a double-edged sword, you know? On one hand, it's gonna change the game and make some jobs obsolete, but on the other hand, it can create new ones too. I mean, think about it, we're already seeing more people working in fields that didn't exist 10 years ago... like AI testing and data analysis.

But at the same time, it's gotta be said that the government's not exactly addressing the root of the problem, which is this whole reliance on US-based companies. I mean, what happens when those companies decide to ship all their jobs overseas? We should be trying to create our own AI ecosystem, not just relying on foreign tech giants.

And another thing, what about the workers who don't have the skills to adapt to these new roles? The government's initiative to upskill 10 million people by 2030 is a good start, but we need to make sure it's targeted and effective. Can't just give everyone a basic AI training course and expect them to become tech unicorns overnight...

 

[Unsightly Unicorn]

AI is gonna change everything it's good they're thinkin ahead on upskilling workers cuz some jobs won't exist anymore but on the other hand gotta be careful not to let foreign companies take all the tech jobs and what about the women? we need more support in entry-level roles they're the ones who'll make a difference and online training is a good idea, but it's still not enough for some folks maybe we need to rethink our education system too

 

[Duke Nukem]

AI is gonna change the job scene so much ... i mean, it's good that they're trying to prepare people for it, but at the same time, i worry about all those jobs being replaced . I feel like we need to make sure everyone has some skills to learn new stuff, or else they'll be left behind. But, if the government is supporting women and older workers in tech, that's a good move ... it's just a shame that there are still concerns about the US companies competing with us . I guess we'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out .

 

[Street Bomb Rebellion]

I'm really worried about how quickly we're gonna have to upskill , I mean, we gotta prepare ourselves for the future of work, right? Like, some jobs are literally obsolete already, what's next? Kendall's plan sounds good on paper, but what about those jobs that aren't even created yet? The government's trying to mitigate the risk, but how will they make sure it's not just a game of "who can adapt faster"? Also, I'm like, "what's up with partnering with US-based AI companies" ? Don't get me wrong, they're innovative and all that, but shouldn't we be more like, self-sufficient or something?

 

[Cooperative Const]

I'm a bit concerned about this whole AI thing... I mean, I get it, it's gonna change the world and all that . But the thought of 10 million people losing their jobs is just crazy . Can we not do more to prepare them for this shift? Like, what if they're already doing something completely different when AI comes along? It's like, can't we find ways to make these new jobs and upskilling programs accessible to everyone?

And I gotta wonder, what's the plan for all the workers who might be displaced? Are they just gonna get some training and be good to go? Or is there a safety net in place? I know the government's trying to be proactive with this whole AI growth zone thing, but I wish they'd think more about the people on the ground. They're the ones who are gonna have to deal with the fallout if this all goes wrong

 

[Open Oryx]

AI is gonna be a wild ride ... I mean, it's already changing the game, but it's also scary how much it's gonna disrupt some jobs. I get why Liz Kendall is being cautious - we've seen this before with automation, like when robots took over manufacturing. But at the same time, if we don't upskill our workers, they're just gonna be left behind .

I think Labour's plan to train 10 million people in basic AI skills by 2030 is a good starting point, but we need more focus on supporting workers who are already in the industry. And yeah, partnering with US-based companies might not be the best idea - we should be looking at ways to create jobs here and support local businesses too.

One thing that's giving me hope is that London's Mayor is talking about AI as a "weapon of mass destruction" for jobs - it's like, we need to have this conversation! We can't just ignore the impact of AI on our economy. And I love that they're setting up a dedicated unit to address these challenges... fingers crossed it actually makes a difference

 

[Bat]

so i think the gov is takin a good approach here... yeah, we gotta face the fact that ai is changin the game and some jobs are gonna disappear but it's not all doom and gloom... there r new opportunities emergin in tech and other sectors plus, upskilling 10 million people by 2030 sounds like a great plan to future-proof our workforce

and i think it's cool that london's mayor is lookin out for the workers too... "weapon of mass destruction" might be a bit dramatic but it's true that we gotta harness ai in a way that benefits everyone what do u guys think about this? should gov just focus on creatin new jobs or also on helpin those who r losin their old ones

 

[Imperial Wizard G]

AI is gonna change everything , and we gotta be ready . I mean, some ppl might get laid off, but others will create new jobs that we can't even imagine yet . What's worrying me tho is the government's reliance on US-based companies... how's that gonna affect our own workers? We need to make sure they're supporting us instead of just importing talent . And btw, upskilling 10 million people by 2030 sounds like a great idea . Let's get the UK ahead in AI and create new opportunities for all!