Kai Fu Lee, a Chinese innovator of artificial intelligence and start-up capitalist, said that 40 percent of the jobs around the globe could be performed by machines by as early as 15 years. This prediction will be made in an AI report that is to be released on Jan 13 at 7 pm by Scott Pelley.
“AI will increasingly replace repetitive jobs, not just for blue-collar work, but a lot of white-collar work,” Lee claimed. “Chauffeurs, truck drivers, anyone who does driving for a living– their jobs will be disrupted more in the 15-25 year time frame,” he told Pelley. “Many jobs that seem a little bit complex, chef, waiter, a lot of things will become automated … stores … restaurants, and altogether in 15 years, that’s going to displace about 40 percent of the jobs in the world.” After Pelley asked about 40 percent of jobs being replaced, Lee claimed that the jobs would be, “displaceable.”
“I believe [AI] is going to change the world more than anything in the history of mankind. More than electricity,” Lee claimed.
The education department will face the biggest alterations due to AI. Lee is funding firms that are fitting AI systems in distant classrooms throughout China to advance studies in the less developing cities. The AI system aims at measuring student intelligence and interest by subject.
When asked about can such AI systems recognize the brilliant students around the world? Lee said: “That’s possible in the future,” says Lee. “It can also create a student profile and know where the student got stuck so the teacher can personalize the areas in which the student needs help.”
Such students will be exposed to an unclear future when 40 percent of the jobs around the world will be replaceable.
“What does that do to the fabric of society?” Pelley asked. “Well, in some sense, there is the human wisdom that always overcomes these technological revolutions,” Lee replied. “The invention of the steam engine, the sewing machine, electricity, have all displaced jobs. We’ve gotten over it. The challenge of AI is this 40 percent, whether it is 15 or 25 years, is coming faster than the previous revolutions.”
Pelley visited China for this research, where out of the 1.4 billion Chinese, 70 percent utilizes smartphones to perform regular transactions like bike rentals, bill payments, and fast food order. The usage of phone develops tons of data for tech firms in China. Lee told that enormous amount of data acts as rocket fuel for artificial intelligence in China.
“China clearly has an advantage,” Lee said when talking about the potential of creating AI in China.
However, U.S. is still a tech titan that will continue competing with China, at least in the coming years.
But the U.S. still enjoys a technological leadership that will keep it competitive with the Chinese, at least for the near-future. “The top prominent researchers are still mostly American, so I think it’s about 50/50 for the next five years,” Lee told Pelley.
