MIT AI Risk Repository · Risk Category · 05.12.00
Labor displacement - Economic impact
Description
The literature frequently highlights concerns that generative AI systems could adversely impact the economy, potentially even leading to mass unemployment. This pertains to various fields, ranging from customer services to software engineering or crowdwork platforms. While new occupational fields like prompt engineering are created, the prevailing worry is that generative AI may exacerbate socioeconomic inequalities and lead to labor displacement. Additionally, papers debate potential large-scale worker deskilling induced by generative AI, but also productivity gains contingent upon outsourcin
From Mapping the Ethics of Generative AI: A Comprehensive Scoping Review (Hagendorff2024), as extracted by the MIT AI Risk Repository (CC BY 4.0).
Classification
- Causal entity
- AI
- Intent
- Unintentional
- Timing
- Post-deployment
Subdomain definition: Widespread use of AI increasing social and economic inequalities, such as by automating jobs, reducing the quality of employment, or producing exploitative dependencies between workers and their employers.
Real-world incidents in this subdomain
- Polish Radio Station Replaces Human Hosts with AI-Generated Presenters to Simulate Interviewing Deceased Poet Wisława Szymborska
- Fast Food Chains' AI Chatbots Failed to Assist Job Applicants with Scheduling Interviews
- Kenyan Data Annotators Allegedly Exposed to Graphic Content for OpenAI's AI
- RealPage Algorithm Allegedly Inflates Rents and Reduces Competition in Housing Market
- Amazon Flex Drivers Allegedly Fired via Automated Employee Evaluations
- Kronos Scheduling Algorithm Allegedly Caused Financial Issues for Starbucks Employees