AI research informs parliamentary inquiry

Research from the University of East London is helping inform a major parliamentary investigation into the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on British businesses and jobs.

Professor Kirk Chang and Dr Susan Akinwalere, from the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, have had their research accepted as formal evidence by the Select Committee on Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

The committee is investigating the opportunities and costs of AI for businesses and the workforce, before making recommendations to Government over policy.

Professor Chang said:

Universities have an important role to play in ensuring that research helps shape public policy, particularly when society is facing change on this scale. 

I am proud that our work at UEL is contributing to a discussion taking place at the highest level, at a time of heightened public interest and understandable concern about what AI will mean for jobs, businesses and working lives.”

AI and people must work together

A central message of the UEL evidence is that the debate should not simply be about whether AI will replace people.

Instead, the academics argue that AI and human skills need to develop together. AI can take on routine work and help people analyse information, while people bring judgement and specialist knowledge.

That could allow jobs to change rather than simply disappear, with AI taking on some tasks that free people to concentrate on more valuable work.

But the researchers say action is needed now if that is going to happen.

AI use is already uneven across the economy. Large, digitally advanced organisations are generally better placed to take advantage of it, while smaller businesses can struggle with cost and skills.

The UEL evidence warns that this could create a “two-speed AI economy”, where a small number of large organisations gain most from the technology while others are left behind.

Dr Akinwalere said:

Our central message is that the impact of AI is not predetermined. It has enormous potential to improve productivity and make working lives better, but that won’t happen by itself. 

We need to invest now in people, skills and infrastructure, while making sure workers are properly protected. The decisions we make now will help determine whether the benefits of AI are widely shared or whether it increases existing inequalities.”

Preparing for change now

The UEL submission sets out a six-part approach to preparing for AI, covering how the technology develops, how businesses adopt it, the infrastructure needed to support it, its impact on workers, education and skills, and the role of government and employment rights.

The researchers call for more opportunities for people to retrain throughout their careers, help for smaller businesses adopting AI and extra support for lower-paid and insecure workers.

They also highlight some of the potential downsides of AI in the workplace, including increased surveillance, biased recruitment systems, and reduced job security.

The evidence is available on the committee’s website.