DUBAI: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is unlikely to trigger mass unemployment, and some predictions of specific job losses will go wrong, according to Sebastian Kurz, a former Chancellor of Austria.
‘I have always been fundamentally optimistic about technological progress. The fear that machines would take away jobs from humans has been around since the first wave of industrialization,’ he said in a recent interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM) in Dubai.
Becoming the Chancellor of Austria at 31 in 2017, Kurz was one of the world’s youngest ever democratically elected heads of government. In December 2021, he left politics and is now working as a globally operating entrepreneur, consultant and investor.
Acknowledging that some jobs would be lost to AI, he said certain predictions in this regard would go wrong.
New jobs will emerge, but contrary to expectations, AI will replace office jobs before those of truck drivers and warehouse workers, Kurz added.
He argued that chatbots such as ChatGPT and oth
er generative AIs [type of AI that can produce various types of content, including text, imagery, audio and synthetic data] have impressively demonstrated this possible scenario.
‘This is a development that many did not expect and that many may be afraid of.’
Cybersecurity, misinformation threats
As an advocate of technological progress, he firmly believes in its potential of positive impact on humanity; however, he is also concerned about the risks that accompany these advancements, such as cyber threats and the spread of disinformation.
‘In the digital world, the absence of national borders demands a re-evaluation of the approach to cybersecurity. The potential for cyberattacks to cause not only financial damage but also endanger lives cannot be underestimated,’ the former chancellor warned.
The rapid digitisation has caught many off guards, particularly regarding the scale of cyber threats, he observed.
Kurz said his experiences with cyber-attacks during his time as Chancellor, including those on his
party and the Foreign Ministry, led him to co-found Dream, a cybersecurity company that uses AI to safeguard critical infrastructures.
Fake news
Kurz pointed out the significant challenge posed by AI-generated disinformation through manipulated digital content, including videos.
Asked his take on some experts equating fake news to a threat like climate change, Kurz said that fake news, cyberattacks, and climate change share a commonality-they are global issues transcending national borders, requiring united efforts for resolution.
The UAE has demonstrated true leadership here, further solidifying its role as a global hub for dialogue and international cooperation, he added. The recently held World Government Summit in Dubai was the latest example in this regard, said Kurz who was a prominent speaker in the Summit.
‘I also do not want to leave COP28 unmentioned, because it was a particularly positive example of international cooperation and bridge-building.’
COP28 success proves diplomacy works
The UAE’
s successful organisation of COP28, the UN Climate Conference in Dubai in December, was a proof that despite many geopolitical tensions, diplomacy is alive and can function, Kurz emphasised.
‘It was a particularly positive example of international cooperation and bridge-building. The UAE has proven to be the right country at the right time to host the climate conference.’
He commended the UAE’s innovative efforts in renewable sector in the country with massive investments in solar power, and the strategy for hydrogen.
Masdar’s [Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company] international initiatives, for example in the wind, solar and geothermal energy sectors, are admirable; other parts of the world can learn a lot from their approach, the former chancellor said.
Austria-UAE ties
The strategic partnership between Austria and the UAE is both close and historically developed, he stressed.
The UAE is not just an important economic partner but also plays a significant role in the fields of innovation and technology, as
well as in the fight against terrorism, Kurz emphasised.
Recalling his visits to the UAE as Chancellor and the fruitful engagements, he said two countries then were able to further deepen the relationships, for example with hydrogen alliance in 2021.
‘I have always harboured a great fascination for the region.’
Source: Emirates News Agency