AI threatens nearly a quarter of Southeast Asia’s workforce but all not lost

AI Summary

A recent International Labour Organization report finds that nearly a quarter of Southeast Asia’s workforce faces disruption from generative AI (GenAI), particularly in clerical and professional roles. However, the industrial revolution caused by AI has not yet materialized, offering a mixed outlook for workers in the region.

Fears of a new industrial revolution in which artificial intelligence replaces manual labour have yet to materialise in Southeast Asia – but white-collar workers should brace themselves. Nearly one in four workers in the region face generative AI (GenAI) disrupting or affecting their jobs, according to a July report by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Clerical, administrative and professional positions are most at risk, according to the report. Manual trades, craft and agricultural...