The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has brought complex dynamics. While AI offers numerous benefits as an innovation, it also poses potential negative impacts, particularly in replacing certain jobs with machines and robots.
This shift creates a gap between workers’ skills and the skills required by the job market.
According to research conducted by the Microeconomics Dashboard (Micdash) team at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), the use of AI is steadily increasing.
This technology is expected to significantly impact the job market by simplifying information retrieval and enhancing human resource management, particularly in increasing productivity and monitoring worker activities.
Dr. Qisha Quarina, coordinator of Micdash’s studies, revealed that 77% of people remain concerned about AI’s potential to eliminate jobs and replace human tasks.
However, she emphasized that AI can optimize work and complement human resource shortages.
“This situation understandably raises concerns about work processes being increasingly replaced by machines and robots,” she explained during the release of a new study titled Labor and Technology Economics: Will Artificial Intelligence Fully Substitute Humans? held at FEB UGM on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.
She further noted that AI technology is less effective in unpredictable areas, especially outside predefined fields of knowledge.
Thus, she suggested that the education sector and companies provide resources for skill upgrading and reskilling to help workers remain competitive in a rapidly digitizing job market.
Another Micdash researcher, Raniah Salsabila, highlighted that AI adoption in the labor market is unavoidable, as the technology is fundamentally designed to assist humans in completing tasks and boosting productivity.
For example, tools like ChatGPT support research, text editing, and efficient idea generation.
“This demonstrates that AI doesn’t simply replace humans but rather replaces specific skills required by workers to make tasks more efficient,” Salsabila explained.
She added that leveraging AI enables workers to adapt to technological advancements.
In the future, necessary skills will involve not only technological expertise but also human intelligence capabilities, such as analytical thinking and innovation, complex problem-solving, critical thinking and analysis, creativity, originality and initiative, reasoning, problem-solving, and ideation.
“These skills are becoming increasingly important. While AI can perform certain tasks, it cannot replace qualities associated with human intelligence,” she concluded.
Reporters: FEB UGM/Shofi Hawa Anjani & Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna Nurseisa Azrien
Photo: Freepik.com