San Francisco
A new analysis by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) is projected to affect nearly 40% of all jobs worldwide. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva emphasized the need for proactive measures by policymakers to address the potential exacerbation of overall inequality due to the impact of AI. In advanced economies, approximately 60% of jobs may be influenced by AI, with half of them potentially benefiting from enhanced productivity through AI integration. However, the other half faces the risk of AI applications performing tasks currently handled by humans, potentially leading to reduced demand for labor, lower wages, and decreased hiring. In some cases, jobs may even disappear. In emerging markets and low-income countries, the exposure to AI is expected to be 40% and 26%, respectively. While these regions may experience fewer immediate disruptions from AI, the lack of infrastructure and skilled workforces may hinder their ability to harness the technology’s benefits, potentially worsening inequality among nations. The IMF also highlighted the potential impact of AI on income and wealth inequality within countries. Higher-income and younger workers might see disproportionate wage increases due to AI adoption, while lower-income and older workers may lag behind. Georgieva stressed the importance of establishing comprehensive social safety nets and offering retraining programs for vulnerable workers to make the AI transition more inclusive, protect livelihoods, and curb inequality.
