OECD: GenAI is affecting jobs previously thought safe from automation

According to a new report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), generative AI (genAI) will soon affect work areas previously considered to have a low likelihood of automation, according to The Register.

Automation in the past mainly affected industrial jobs in rural areas. GenAI, on the other hand, can be used for non-routine cognitive tasks, which is expected to affect more highly skilled workers and big cities where these workers are often based. The report estimates that up to 70% of these workers will be able to get half of their tasks done twice as fast with the help of genAI. The industries likely to be affected include education, IT, and finance.

The OECD notes that even if work tasks disappear, unemployment won’t necessarily increase. The overall number of jobs could increase, but those new positions might not directly benefit those who lost work because of automation and new efficiencies.