AI impact on London jobs

AI's Impact on London Job Market

Artificial Intelligence could revolutionize workplaces, but what does that mean for you? AI's impact could be significant if your job has repetitive or automated tasks. Research indicates AI could change nearly a million jobs in London, impacting over 200,000 telemarketers, 150,000 bookkeepers, and more than 95,000 data entry workers.

According to LiveCareer UK, an online CV company, jobs at risk also include those in fast food, warehouses, retail cashiers, paralegals, and proofreaders. McKinsey, a consulting firm, also weighed in, noting a 38% decrease in job postings vulnerable to AI compared to three years prior. Women are at greater risk than men due to their prevalence in roles susceptible to AI.

Expert Advice

Jasmine Escalera, a LiveCareer expert, advises companies to consider this and avoid unintentionally creating gender disparity through AI. She stresses engaging with the concept, considering AI's current and future impact on roles. Escalera recommends an open discussion with managers on complementing these changes.

AI in Healthcare

One NHS Trust uses AI to support staff, not replace them. A robot dispenses medication at Queen Elizabeth Hospital's pharmacy, while clinicians administer it. AI analyzes data to predict medication needs for smooth hospital operations. For instance, AI ensures the respiratory ward has enough nebulizers during flu season.

Rachel Knight, chief pharmacist at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, mentions dispensing around 400,000 items yearly. She notes the difficulty of manually understanding dispensing details. AI identifies patterns pharmacists can't, indicating optimal medicine storage for patient accessibility. This improves workflow efficiency and patient safety, according to Knight. The government has included AI in their 10-year NHS strategy, which includes staff training. Knight is also on a digital apprenticeship to gain AI skills.

Zeinab Hussain, digital health leader at Lewisham and Greenwich Trust, states that AI will take over mundane, repetitive tasks, not jobs. She added that AI will detect risks sooner, leading to better long-term results, with the focus on upskilling staff.

AI Across Industries

Much has been documented regarding AI's adoption in the City and its effect on entry-level positions. McKinsey's research indicates that more than a third of midsize businesses are using AI. They found job postings had fallen 31% between May and July compared to the same period three years earlier. Postings in occupations highly exposed to AI dropped by 38%. Researchers cautioned that continued slowing of entry-level hiring could create gaps in the future workforce. They advised businesses to rethink their AI use and determine which tasks require human input versus automation.

Companies such as Amazon, JP Morgan, Microsoft, and Ford anticipate AI's impact on jobs. Ford's CEO, Jim Farley, predicts that AI could replace half of all white-collar workers in the U.S.

Tech Sector

The tech sector is leading in AI adoption. Snap, the company behind Snapchat, held a summer workshop with the Royal College of Art, allowing young people to use augmented reality and AI to design landscapes. Arron, a graphic design student, believes designers must learn AI as a tool. He suggests regulations are needed.

Snap uses AI to create augmented reality glasses. Qi Pan, director of computer vision engineering, believes AI will increase efficiency rather than replace jobs, helping developers realize creative ideas quickly. He anticipates significant productivity gains rather than job losses.