A recent survey conducted by the GMB union revealed that nearly half of employees are concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on their jobs. Among the 5,000 union members surveyed, around 30% reported that their employers have already implemented AI, with 26% stating that AI is now performing tasks traditionally handled by human workers. Additionally, close to half of the respondents mentioned that AI is being used to monitor their activities or those of their colleagues.
The rise of AI technology is increasingly leading to job displacements. For example, Asda recently announced plans to cut up to 1,000 jobs as it expands automation in its warehouse operations by centralizing its George clothing online business. Similarly, Nestle is considering laying off 450 employees, partly due to the growing utilization of AI in areas like human resources.
Amazon introduced a sophisticated robot capable of operating in various sections of its extensive warehouses. The latest Proteus model utilizes cutting-edge technology to access areas that were previously inaccessible to robots.
At the GMB Congress, a Nestle employee expressed dismay over the loss of jobs to robots, highlighting the need for protective legislation to safeguard workers from potential exploitation by unscrupulous employers. The delegate emphasized the transformative impact of AI and robotics on the workforce, urging the government to enact laws ensuring job security, retraining, or redeployment for workers affected by technological advancements.
Furthermore, concerns were raised at the Congress regarding the threat posed to the livelihoods of Britain’s 300,000 taxi drivers with the imminent introduction of driverless taxis. Waymo, a US company, has selected London as the first European city for its autonomous taxi services and is seeking regulatory approval to commence operations. The GMB is advocating for regulatory measures to shield taxi and private hire drivers from job losses and income reductions due to the deployment of autonomous vehicles.
A private hire driver and GMB Congress Delegate cautioned against the potential repercussions of replacing human workers with automated systems, emphasizing the need for a fair distribution of risks and rewards in the evolving technological landscape. The delegate criticized gig economy companies for promoting driverless taxis as progress without adequately addressing the impact on workers’ livelihoods.
