A mass survey of thousands of workers reveals almost half (48 percent) are worried Artificial Intelligence (AI) will take their jobs.
GMB Union’s poll of more than 5,000 workers across a variety of sectors also show 58 percent think AI will take away jobs in their workplace.
Almost a third (29 percent) said their employer has already introduced AI in their workplace, with a quarter (26 percent) of those saying Artificial Intelligence is doing tasks that they would usually do.
Nearly half (48 percent) say bosses are using AI to track them or their colleague's activity.
Just this week it was announced around 1,000 jobs at Asda’s George brand would be lost to AI and Automation.
Meanwhile many of 450 jobs losses at Nestle look set to be replaced by AI.
Nestle worker Robert Battell will discuss his experiences – and the findings of the survey – at GMB’s annual congress in Blackpool today [Monday].
Robert Battell, Nestle Worker, told GMB Congress:
“It’s heartbreaking to see colleagues - friends - you’ve worked with for years lose their jobs and be replaced by robots.
“That can’t be right, but that’s what’s happening at Nestle and many other businesses around the UK.
“It’s a terrifying vision for the future, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
“AI and robotics will change the world of work, just as much as the Industrial Revolution did.
“AI is not the enemy, it genuinely can make work better, but we must have laws to protect workers from AI being used for wrong reasons by bad bosses.
“It opens up incredibly opportunities but also carries huge risk.
“We can’t just leave it to companies to do the right thing. As we all know, their priority will almost always be their bottom line.
"The Government must legislate to protect workers’ jobs or guarantee retraining or redeployment when change is unavoidable.
“That’s what needs to happen now, at Nestle, before hundreds of workers are left behind.”
End of “black box” AI? Scientists Develop Blueprint for Transparent Systems that Reveal How they Learn and Make Decisions