General News / June 5, 2024

Over 800,000 Irish Jobs Under Threat From AI

Image Credits: Philipp Katzenberger
General News / June 5, 2024

Over 800,000 Irish Jobs Under Threat From AI

Text: Izzy Copestake

Time to start saying please and thank you to Chat GPT.

According to original reporting in the Business Post, an unpublished government report reveals that approximately 810,000 jobs in Ireland are at risk of being replaced by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI). The report, which is due to be published by the Department of Finance and the Department of Enterprise midway through June, discusses the impacts of AI on the Irish economy.

According to the unpublished research, computer technicians, telephone salespeople, receptionists, lab researchers, and chartered and certified accountants are the professions particularly vulnerable to replacement by AI.

The paper reports that Ireland’s economy is slightly more exposed than other similar economies, with 63% of jobs vulnerable compared to 60% elsewhere. Of these, 30% of roles (810,000 jobs) are reported to be “at risk”. However, the report will also state that 33% of jobs (approximately 900,000) are expected to fall into the “high potential benefit area”. This means that AI technologies are predicted to be integrated into their profession in a complementary way. Those affected include nurses, midwives, psychologists, barristers, judges, and librarians.

According to reporting in Business Post, the report was conducted to allow the government to mitigate the risks of AI through reskilling and upskilling in affected departments.

Elsewhere on District: Ireland Has a Toxic Algorithm Problem, Why is it Being Ignored?