AI Threat Looming: One-Third of Workers Worry About Losing Their Jobs to Automation

In recent developments, the US company OpenAI has introduced its first dialog-based language model, ChatGPT, in November 2022. This announcement marks a significant step forward in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI).

The progress in AI model development has been evident, with improvements in the simultaneous processing of text, images, audio, video, and other formats. This advancement has been demonstrated by various companies and developers in recent presentations.

However, these advancements have also raised concerns about job security, particularly in Germany. According to a survey conducted in mid-August, one in three German citizens is worried about losing their job due to the use of AI. This concern is more pronounced among workers in sectors with routine or manual tasks, as well as employees in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The survey, conducted by the Ifo Institute, did not specify which industries in Germany are most likely to experience job cuts or gains due to AI. However, it did reveal that about 27 percent of companies in Germany expect AI to lead to job cuts in the next five years. On the other hand, only 5 percent of companies anticipate additional jobs due to AI, while two-thirds expect no change.

Interestingly, the survey did not reveal significant differences in job loss concerns between various political parties, except for those who voted for AfD, BSW, or Linke in the last federal election. Voters of the Greens and FDP express job loss concerns less frequently than the average, according to the survey.

The concern about job loss due to AI is not evenly distributed across the population. Nationwide, Germans living in cities and those with lower education are more likely to fear that their work could be done entirely or partially by an AI in the future.

Questions of security and data protection are now also coming to the fore in Europe in relation to AI. As AI models become more sophisticated, ensuring their safe and ethical use is becoming increasingly important.

Despite the concerns, it's worth noting that AI also has the potential to create new jobs and improve efficiency in various sectors. As we move forward, it will be crucial to strike a balance between technological advancement and job security.