Sadiq Khan is set to deliver a speech urging the UK government to take action regarding the significant impact artificial intelligence (AI) may have on London's job market. He will warn that AI could lead to widespread job losses, particularly among white-collar workers in sectors like finance, creative industries, law, accounting, consulting, and marketing, potentially ushering in an era of mass unemployment. Khan emphasizes the need to create new jobs to replace those that will be displaced, with entry-level and junior positions being the most vulnerable. Research suggests a substantial shift in job skills by 2030, but Khan also acknowledges AI's potential benefits for public services and economic productivity. He presents a choice: either harness AI for positive transformation or risk its destructive potential on employment.
In response, City Hall is establishing a London taskforce on AI and the future of work, involving government, business, and AI sector experts, to assess AI's impact and offer free AI training to Londoners. Polling indicates that over half of London workers anticipate AI affecting their jobs within the next year. While some reports predict millions of low-skilled jobs could disappear across the UK due to automation by 2035, expert opinions on the extent of job replacement vary. Some analyses suggest AI may struggle with complex tasks and that human collaboration remains crucial for knowledge-intensive work, while others point to companies potentially over-automating roles due to AI hype, leading to "AI washing" where job cuts are attributed to AI rather than financial reasons. Khan also draws parallels to the slow response to past technological shifts, citing the negative consequences of social media's growth on youth mental health and misinformation. Separately, the mayor of the City of London addressed concerns about safety affecting investment, asserting that the city is one of the safest globally and that negative sentiment risks undermining the UK's international standing.