The new artificial intelligence forum, backed by the federal government, holds its first meeting on Wednesday after being unveiled at The Australian Financial Review Workplace Summit. The initiative sits under the workplace relations portfolio and is tasked with examining rules and protections for employees as automation and AI spread across industries.
Summit data shared by the Productivity Commission highlighted that roughly 4% of jobs might be fully eliminated by AI while more than 30% are more likely to be augmented. Government representatives also said that up to February headline labour market indicators had not yet shown dramatic shifts.
Jobs and Skills Australia, which advises on workforce and training needs, is taking a more alarmed view of the pace of change. Its commissioner, a key member of the new AI forum, warned that job-loss projections tied to automation and AI are moving quickly and now expected to go beyond the 4% mark.
That figure equates to about 600,000 roles out of 14.8 million employees. Any increase represents a substantial jump in disrupted livelihoods.
