In a candid admission, UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has acknowledged that the increasing deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to significant job losses across the country. However, Kendall has also unveiled a bold plan to train up to 10 million British workers in essential AI skills by 2030, aiming to help the workforce adapt to the coming shifts in the labor market.

Leveling with the Public

Speaking at an event in London, Kendall did not mince words, stating plainly: "I want to level with the public. Some jobs will go." The former Work and Pensions Secretary cited concerns about the impact of AI on entry-level roles in industries like law and finance, where 27% of UK workers fear losing their jobs to automation in the next five years.

Upskilling the Workforce

In response to these looming challenges, Kendall announced a major government initiative to reskill the British workforce. The plan involves training up to 10 million workers in basic AI skills by 2030, including even members of the Cabinet. This signals a focus on helping employees adapt to the transformative changes ahead, rather than resisting them.

"We are on the cusp of great change – an industrial revolution [taking place] in a decade," Kendall said. "We have barely begun to see how this technology will transform all our lives – I believe for the better."

Embracing AI for Economic Competitiveness

While acknowledging the job disruption, Kendall struck an optimistic tone, positioning the UK's embrace of AI as key to its future economic competitiveness. The government's goal is to "make Britain the fastest AI adoption country in the G7," she said, with new jobs being created around four designated AI growth zones.

This aligns with warnings from the head of the IMF that AI will be a "tsunami hitting the labor market," with young workers particularly vulnerable as entry-level roles are automated. Kendall's plan aims to get ahead of this disruptive wave and ensure the UK workforce is prepared.

As AI's impact on jobs becomes more pronounced, Kendall's balanced approach – leveling with the public while investing in upskilling – could serve as a model for other nations grappling with this technological transformation.