The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
PwC in tech revolution readiness call
The nation’s workforce must be readied for the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure firms can ride out “cliff edges” created by the technological revolution.
PwC said AI had the power to overhaul business models and leave workers sidelined and companies struggling unless preparations are made.
It estimates up to 30% of UK jobs are at high risk of being eradicated by 2030 due to advances in AI.
It said firms and the state must double down on their efforts to improve the education system and help workers retrain to ensure AI delivers a muchheralded boost to the UK economy.
“There are different sectors that will be impacted in different ways,” Jon Andrews, PwC’s head of technology and investments, said.
“If you take the logistics world, there is going to be a period of time as we move towards autonomous vehicles where it will continue to be cheaper to have an old vehicle that is non-autonomous with a person driving it.
“Then all of sudden that will flip and the business case will change and it will be worthwhile making the investment in autonomous vehicles.
“So we will see a cliff in terms of jobs there going more quickly. “
Experts believe the rise of AI poses a threat to workers across the sectors, from staff in fast-food restaurants to journalists, accountants and doctors.
However, the rise of AI – coined the fourth industrial revolution – will also create new roles for human beings and could drive up productivity and bolster economic growth.
Jonathan Gillham, PwC’s director of economics, said: “It will lead to some sectors experiencing strong and rapid growth, but the job of the UK policy community is to help create the right labour force going forward to meet that.”