‘My job is going away’: UK faces growing AI fears as workers report fewer opportunities

Representative AI image

Artificial intelligence is beginning to affect jobs across the UK, particularly in areas related to writing, translation, data analysis and creative work. Companies are increasingly using AI tools to cut costs, slow hiring and replace some entry-level jobs.A 2024 estimate by the International Monetary Fund says that more than two-thirds of British workers perform tasks that could potentially be handled by AI, making the UK one of the countries most exposed to workplace changes driven by technology.According to several people interviewed by AFP, workers in creative and language-based occupations are already seeing fewer opportunities and lower pay due to the increased use of AI tools.Translator Jessica Spangler said she first realized how serious the change had become when a client asked her to help develop materials for training an AI system. “That was the day I really thought … my job was going away,” she said.The 52-year-old, who translates material into English for German academic and historical organizations, said the experience left her worried about the future of her profession.Requests to translate press releases and user manuals have declined sharply in recent years. Instead, more clients now ask translators to proofread and edit machine-generated work, with publishers offering translators lower prices than a decade ago.The impact of AI is also being seen in the UK film industry. A report by Morgan Stanley states that companies in the UK that have adopted AI will cut their workforce by eight percent by October 2025.Laura, a cinematographer based in London, said AI and the wider slowdown in the industry have significantly reduced opportunities for film work. She is now retraining as an outdoor instructor in Dorset, earning the minimum wage.Bock Klein Tez Link from King’s College London said the transition to AI could be difficult because new types of jobs could take time to emerge. He warned that the change could lead to an increase in unemployment during the adjustment period.According to one of their studies, the most AI-exposed occupations, including software development and data analysis, saw a decrease in vacancies after the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, especially in entry-level roles.The development of AI is taking place at a time when UK youth unemployment is already high. One in six 16- to 24-year-olds is currently out of work, the highest level since 2014, official figures show.