AI is Coming for More Jobs, says Andrew Yang

At the "Techonomy 23: The Promise and Peril of AI" conference, Andrew Yang, former presidential candidate and founder of the Forward Party, shared his insights on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation on the American workforce and society. His talk highlighted the profound changes AI is bringing, particularly in job displacement and its wider societal implications.

Yang began by contextualizing AI within broader economic trends, particularly those accelerated by technological advancements. He pointed out that automation, now increasingly powered by AI, is transforming industries such as automobile manufacturing. Yang emphasized the educational divide in the U.S., noting that about 35% of Americans graduate from college, leaving a majority with only a high school education. He identified the top five jobs in the U.S.: administrative support, retail clerks, food preparation and serving, truck driving, and manufacturing. These jobs, comprising approximately 50% of the American workforce, are most vulnerable to automation.

Societal Effects of Automation

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Yang specifically mentioned the 2 million Americans working in call centers as an example of jobs at high risk of being automated by AI. He referenced a report from the Obama White House highlighting the threat of job automation, particularly in white-collar sectors traditionally perceived as safe from such risks. Yang highlighted that both routine cognitive jobs (like call center work) and routine manual jobs (such as manufacturing) are susceptible to AI-driven automation.

Moreover, Yang discussed the societal impact of job displacement due to automation. He linked the loss of 5 million manufacturing jobs in the U.S. to various social issues, including increased deaths of despair among middle-aged men, declining marriage rates, and the challenges faced by children, especially boys, raised in single-parent households. Yang argued that these social changes coincide with the decline in manufacturing jobs./

New Government Response Needed

Discussing the four types of jobs in America – non-routine cognitive, routine cognitive, routine manual, and non-routine manual – Yang noted the decline in routine cognitive jobs due to automation and AI. He pointed out that while non-routine manual jobs, like hotel room cleaning, are harder to automate, they are often low-paying and less incentivized for automation.

Yang then shifted focus to the implications of AI and automation on democracy, suggesting that these technological changes contribute to the fragmentation of democratic society. This concern had partly motivated his presidential run, highlighting his view that the U.S. government needs to adapt more effectively to the pace of technological change.

In terms of policy response, Yang proposed the appointment of a dedicated cabinet secretary for AI and the creation of an agency focused on AI, emphasizing the need for a centralized and coordinated approach to address the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. He expressed disappointment with the current government's approach, which he perceives as fragmented and inadequate, arguing for more proactive and strategic measures.

(This summary was prepared using generative artificial intelligence.)