Russians are being warned that millions of jobs could be lost due to the introduction of AI
In Russia, experts are warning of the risks of mass job losses resulting from the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies. According to estimates by the Institute of Labor as of May 18, automation could affect approximately 7.5% of jobs in the coming years, potentially affecting millions of workers. The greatest impact is expected in certain sectors of the economy, particularly retail, education, and IT.
Acting Director of the Institute Vladimir Smirnov reported that the study is based on a survey of several thousand Russian companies that are already implementing AI technologies. “Overall, such companies account for about 5–6% of the economy, with the majority concentrated in wholesale trade (13.3%), education (12%), and the IT sector (11%),” he noted.
On average, analysts at the Institute of Labor estimate that employment could decline by 7.5% of the total workforce in the coming years. According to the Ministry of Economic Development, the number of employed people in Russia is 74.4 million. Thus, technology could put 5.58 million workers out of a job.
In Moscow, the figure stands at 7.87%, and in St. Petersburg, at 7.97%. The largest reductions are projected in the Amur Region (8.06%), the Novgorod Region (8.05%), and the Kursk Region (8%). The smallest reductions are expected in Chechnya (7%). Vladimir Smirnov acknowledged that researchers are not yet ready to release exact figures so as not to alarm the public.
Earlier, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stated that the development of AI will not lead to mass unemployment but, on the contrary, will contribute to the creation of new jobs.
Scientists have developed AI to predict obesity-related diseases.
