Overview
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (FiRe), a major precursor of digitization, automation, Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), has caused transformative shifts in the world of work, altering the way tasks are performed and redefining job roles to keep up with demands of the 21st century. Although innovation has historically led to economic growth, it has at times substituted human labor when accompanied by radical new technologies. The impact of AI on employment is diverse and complex, with both positive and negative outcomes. On one hand, AI can automate processes, resulting in employment losses in specific industries. studies exploring the impact of AI in these industries and the workers’ acceptance of AI-infused technologies are nascent, while global studies provide mixed projections on AI’s impact — both positive and negative. Additionally, pending legislation on AI is at an impasse, but the legislative body calls for regulation of AI due to its tendency of employee attrition in some of the country’s priority sectors. Focused research gauging preparedness among employers and workforces will provide insights to ensure smooth adoption of productivity-enhancing yet disruptive AI across the skills spectrum while assessing their transition experience will inform policies for other industries as AI proliferates.