Will Artificial Intelligence Replace Human Labor?

AI development has shown a steep rising curve ever since its inception. AI has already started to take over simple jobs from humans. One example is Siri, an AI technology, used to help Apple users when asked a question. However, as AI has developed, many people, especially workers, have become afraid of its outstanding intelligence and unmatched productivity. A report by Gallup News stated that Americans believe artificial intelligence will negatively affect the U.S. job market, with 75% saying it will decrease the total number of jobs over the next 10 years. However, I believe that advanced technology will not replace human labor.

The functionality of artificial intelligence is still unstable. AI doesn't perfectly substitute people’s skills but rather aids workers so that they can achieve greater productivity. Still, many say that AI will have a fundamental influence on the job market. A report by investment bank Goldman Sachs indicated that artificial intelligence could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs. But while many people may lose their jobs as AI develops, many new jobs will also emerge, such as Virtual Store Sherpa, Advisory AI Consultants, AI Content Creators, and AI Ethicists. There are already some examples of jobs made by AI. Data science is one of the most popular subjects made by AI. It is the study of data to extract meaningful insights for business. Data science combines statistical tools, methods, and technology to generate meaning from data. AI takes this one step further and uses the data to solve cognitive problems commonly associated with human intelligence, such as learning, pattern recognition, and human-like expression. Data science has been rated as a fantastic career with significant potential for future growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data scientist positions will continue to be among the fastest-growing jobs in 2024, with a projected increase in job openings of 35% from 2022 to 2032.

Besides, jobs like customer service representatives, receptionists, and accountants/bookkeepers will likely be removed, while jobs like teachers, lawyers and judges, directors, managers, and CEOs are less likely to be replaced. The Chinese Room argument is a very interesting experiment by psychologist John Searle. According to the argument, an American man who is not fluent in Chinese is isolated in a room with only a book about Chinese characters. Outside the room, a woman who knows both Chinese and English writes a message to the man. The man will eventually see the message and try to produce a correct response, leading the receiver (woman) of the message to think that the man is a fluent Chinese speaker. In this experiment, the American cannot produce messages without the book. This is similar to an AI that cannot solve problems on its own without information supplied by human beings. Due to this problem, there are many jobs that are impossible for AI to replace, like teachers who need to understand students and have emotion. 

Furthermore, sports, music and business are major subjects that are impossible for AI to excel in. This is the reason AI is mostly used to support jobs, not doing the job alone. One example is AI will certainly be a popular topic in the future. Companies like Tesla have already made significant profits through their use of AI. The fear surrounding AI stems from its rapid development and portrayals in movies like "Terminator," which depict AI as a threat. However, AI is not yet advanced enough to dominate the entire job market. It remains a tool that mimics human functions but does not exceed human capabilities. Fearing AI, which is designed to enhance human comfort, seems ironic. AI should stand for Assigned Individual rather than Artificial Intelligence.