Achi news desk-
Artificial intelligence (AI) poses a threat to low-skilled job sectors, echoing historical patterns seen with the introduction of new technologies, according to an expert.
Muhammet Elyesa Koytak, a faculty member at Istanbul Medeniyet University’s sociology department, spoke to Anadolu about the impact of AI on job security.
He pointed out that the impact of artificial intelligence on different job sectors had been evaluated, and that Artificial Intelligence, like any technology, initially threatened low-skilled job sectors.
Koytak said: “Whenever a new technology emerges, there is always discomfort and unrest among those who have traditionally been involved in that work.”
Regarding income inequality in society, Koytak said that depending on the socio-economic structure, AI could lead to unemployment among the lower classes, noting that people with higher incomes are less worried about losing their jobs.
Emphasizing the inclusive nature of AI, he said: “It has participatory aspects, with students, educators, practitioners, and even policy makers using it.”
‘AI has both positive and negative aspects’
When discussing the impact of AI on different professions, Koytak divides jobs into two: those that are sensitive to technology and those that are not.
Hairdressing for example, he says, has come apace with technology but has not experienced a change in its essence.
He explained that being sensitive to technology in professions does not necessarily have a negative connotation, mentioning fields such as medicine, engineering, academia, and law, which have used AI for a long time and evolved with it.
Koytak also noted the acceleration in the work of academics, researchers, and engineers using AI, and warned that despite the widespread use of this technology, there is a need for validation.
Highlighting the dual nature of AI, Koytak stressed the importance of avoiding “simplistic” interpretations, adding: “AI limits individuality in some respects while opening art, knowledge, commerce and professions to wider use.”
He concluded: “We can also use AI to identify and analyze poverty in a detailed manner, providing fundamental insights for making fair and just social policies.”
