Are Human Jobs Lost to AI an Ethical Issue?
Does the advent of generative AI result in job loss? The handwriting is on the wall. But what are the ethical implications?
As you may know, one of Facebook’s relationship status options says, "It's complicated.”
That's exactly what Paul Roetzer, founder and CEO of Marketing AI Institute, said in November 2021 — an entire year before ChatGPT launched — about the fear of job loss due to AI :
"As we talk with marketers about how artificial intelligence will transform the industry, a lot of them want to know if AI will automate their job or make it obsolete.
"The answer is complicated, as we’ve learned over years spent experimenting with AI and interviewing experts.
"Some marketing jobs will go away because of AI. Some marketing jobs will be enhanced by AI. And new jobs will be created by AI.
"This likely won’t happen overnight, but it could happen faster than you think.
"That means there are very real employment considerations marketers should understand now if they want to remain relevant and effective in the future."
Fast forward to today. While I could find no concrete statistics related to marketing jobs specifically, the fact is that jobs are being lost due to AI.
Job Loss Due to AI
In May 2023, a total of 3,900 job losses in the United States were directly attributed to AI, accounting for 5% of all job losses during that month. This placed AI as the seventh-largest contributor to job displacement. The tech sector has been significantly impacted, with 136,831 job losses in the current year.
According to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, AI could affect 60% of jobs in developed economies. This impact is not uniform across all job sectors, however. AI will positively affect some jobs, enhancing productivity, and negatively affect others, leading to job displacement or role changes.
The same IMF report highlights that AI's impact will differ worldwide. About 40% of jobs will be impacted in developing countries; the figure stands at 26% in low-income countries.
A ResumeBuilder report indicated that more than one-third (37%) of business leaders say AI replaced workers in 2023. Employees reported that 29% of their work tasks are replaceable by AI.
Recent data from Socius, an IT company, reveals that 14% of workers have experienced job displacement due to automation or AI.
These figures indicate that current fears may exceed the actual impact. But it’s worth echoing Roetzer’s point that while AI can lead to job displacement, it can also create new jobs and opportunities.
For example, the World Economic Forum predicts that while AI may replace around 85 million jobs by 2025, it will also create approximately 97 million new roles — a net employment gain that underscores AI's capacity to drive economic growth and diversify job opportunities.
What Types of Jobs Are Being Affected?
In a recent LinkedIn post, best-selling author and content marketing expert Ann Handley wrote, “It seems that most small businesses are experimenting with AI as an efficiency accelerator — taking over all the boring, labor-intensive bits of operations. Like troubleshooting code. Analyzing ad performance. It’s not about getting creative jobs as much as accelerating efficiency.”
I agree. AI technologies excel at performing routine and repetitive tasks more efficiently than humans. That can only lead to automating jobs across various industries. According to Forbes, positions that involve data entry, customer service, and basic analysis are particularly vulnerable.
Various sources say other industries that can expect to be impacted include the tech sector, legal professions, administrative and clerical work, healthcare, and creative (graphic design, writing, and video production).
How Will AI Affect Marketing Jobs?
“Some marketing jobs will go away because of AI. Some marketing jobs will be enhanced by AI. And new jobs will be created by AI.”
- Paul Roetzer
Let’s expand on Roetzer’s statement by citing some possibilities.
Marketing jobs AI may replace include the mundane, such as data entry. basic content creation, simple A/B testing, and routine customer service.
Marketing jobs AI will enhance cover a wide range:
Marketing Analytics. Marketers can use AI to analyze customer data, uncover new insights, and find patterns in huge datasets, allowing marketers to develop highly targeted campaigns based on deeper customer understanding.
Predictive Analytics. AI can forecast marketing trends, audience behavior, and campaign performance, enabling more informed decision-making.
Personalization. AI models are particularly helpful in identifying customer preferences and personalizing content in real-time, a task AI can automate at scale.
Next-Best-Action Decisioning. AI can be used to determine the best campaign for each individual customer, automating the process of campaign selection based on customer behavior and preferences.
Social Media Automation. AI can automate social media and outreach programs, including tasks such as content scheduling and audience engagement.
Ad Targeting and Segmentation. AI-powered algorithms and data analysis techniques can automate tasks like ad targeting and segmentation, leading to more personalized marketing experiences.
Campaign Optimization. AI can run real-time analysis and suggest adjustments to improve campaign performance mid-stream.
Creative Assistance. AI can assist creatives by generating ideas, drafting variations, and handling image/video editing tasks, saving time for marketers.
Marketing jobs AI may create include AI strategists, AI ethicists, specialists, digital assistants, and AI-powered content creators.
According to WebFX, “AI will replace and displace various marketing jobs, affecting some marketers more than others. However, while AI may replace a number of mundane marketing jobs, it is highly unlikely that it will completely replace marketers themselves.”
Is Job Loss Due to AI an Ethical Issue?
You bet it is... for several reasons:
1. Economic and Social Impact
Worker displacement by AI can lead to significant economic challenges, including unemployment and income inequality. That can have a cascading effect on social structures, impacting mental health, community stability, and overall quality of life.
2. Worker Re-skilling and Transition Support
Employers have an ethical responsibility to support workers displaced by AI through re-skilling or up-skilling programs. The absence of such support can lead to long-term unemployment and exacerbate social inequalities.
3. Rights and Dignity of Workers
There is an ethical concern regarding the respect for the rights and dignity of workers. Rapid replacement of humans with AI without considering the human impact can be seen as valuing efficiency and profit over human well-being.
4. Long-term Societal Consequences
Beyond immediate job displacement, there are broader societal questions about the kind of world we want to live in. This includes considerations about the role of work in human life, community cohesion, and what responsibilities companies and governments have to ensure a stable and equitable society.
5. Ethical Prioritization
At a fundamental level, there's an ethical question about whether we should always prioritize technological advancement, especially at the cost of human employment and societal stability.
What Should You Do After Losing Your Job to AI?
Dealing with job loss due to AI involves a multifaceted approach. Here's what individuals can do:
Re-skill and Up-skill
Invest in learning new in-demand skills, including digital literacy, AI and machine learning basics, data analysis, or other skills relevant to the evolving job market.
Explore New Careers
Look into industries less likely to be affected by AI in the near term or those that are growing due to AI, such as cybersecurity, AI ethics, and data management.
Network and Engage in Community
Build a network through social media, professional associations, and community events. Networking can open doors to opportunities that aren't advertised publicly.
Use Career Services and Counseling
Many governments and organizations offer career services, counseling, and job search assistance. Take advantage of these resources for guidance and support.
Protect Your Mental and Emotional Well-being
Job loss can be stressful and impact mental and emotional health. Seeking support from family, friends, or mental health professionals is important.
Practice Financial Planning and Management
Review and adjust your budget to manage financial constraints. Seek advice from financial advisors if needed.
Explore Government and NGO Assistance Programs
Explore government unemployment benefits, training programs, and non-governmental organization resources designed to assist displaced workers.
How to Prevent Losing Your Job to AI
Marketers, like professionals in other fields, need to adapt to this new way of working by acquiring new skills, exploring AI tools, and considering how AI can augment their work rather than replace it. This proactive approach could help mitigate job displacement risks while maximizing the benefits AI offers in terms of efficiency and innovation.
Here are some tips to help future-proof your job:
Learn Basic AI Concepts
Start by understanding the fundamentals of AI, natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning (ML). Online platforms like Coursera and Udemy offer introductory courses.
Get Hands-on Experience
Start working with generative AI tools. Begin with simple prompts and gradually move to more complex ones.
Stay Informed
AI is a fast-evolving field. Stay informed about industry trends and technological advancements. Attend workshops, webinars, and conferences. Follow relevant people and organizations on social media. Listen to podcasts and read blogs to stay updated on the latest developments.
Practice Ethical Use
Use AI responsibly. Understand the implications of generative AI, including potential data bias, plagiarism issues, and the risk of generating harmful or misleading content.
Network With and Learn From Others
Join AI communities, both offline and online. (The AI Marketers Guild is a good example.) Engage in conversations, ask questions, share your work, learn from others, and get feedback.
Emphasize Human Skills
Focus on skills that AI cannot easily replicate, such as creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills.
Seek Opportunities for AI Integration
Look for ways to incorporate AI into your current role to enhance productivity rather than being replaced by it.
Be Proactive at Work
Show initiative in taking on new projects, especially those involving new technologies or methodologies.
Wrap-up
What conclusions can we draw from this discussion?
While certain industries will and are experiencing job losses due to AI, the technology also has the potential to create new jobs and transform existing ones. What Paul Roetzer said in 2021 is still true — it’s complicated and too soon to tell what the future holds.
My advice to employers: Treat your employees ethically and fairly, even if you plan to replace their jobs with AI, and take steps to mitigate any negative effects. For example, re-skill and up-skill your existing workforce to effectively use AI rather than laying off workers.
My advice to employees: Don’t fear AI; embrace it. Get the training you need and find ways to integrate the technology into your current role. Evolve, learn to work with AI, and you will thrive.
Warm regards,
Paul Chaney, Editor
AI Marketing Ethics Digest
What do you think about the future of the job market on humans due to AI? Leave a comment and let us know.