Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to push the boundaries of what was once thought impossible. Its remarkable prediction capabilities have captured widespread attention. From predicting stock market trends to diagnosing diseases, the technology has demonstrated an uncanny ability to analyse vast amounts of data and make accurate forecasts.&nbsp;

Now, new research conducted by a team of researchers from Denmark and Sweden suggests that artificial intelligence may be able to predict a person's political views based on their appearance, posing potential privacy concerns.&nbsp;

<h2>Study findings</h2>

The study found that the AI model accurately predicted the political affiliations of people in around 61 per cent of cases.&nbsp;

As per the research published in the journal Nature, variations in facial expressions were linked to political views. The model concluded that, due to their smiles, "both male and female right-wing composites appeared happier than their left-wing counterparts",&nbsp;while liberal candidates displayed more neutral expressions.

Women who exhibited a facial expression of contempt — neutral eyes and one corner of the lips lifted — were associated with more liberal politics by the model.

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The researchers also observed a correlation between a candidate's level of attractiveness and their political ideology.&nbsp;

As per Business Insider, women deemed attractive by their beauty scores were predicted to have conservative views, although there was no similar correlation found between men's attractiveness and right-wing leanings.

"Politicians on the right have been found to be more attractive than those on the&nbsp;left," states the study.

<h2>What data set was used?</h2>

The study aimed to demonstrate the privacy threat resulting from the combination of deep learning techniques and easily accessible photographs. For this purpose, the researchers used a dataset of 3,233 images of Danish political candidates and employed facial recognition and predictive analytics to assess facial expressions and attractiveness scores.

<h2>How is this ability a threat?</h2>

The findings raise concerns about how AI can perpetuate stereotypes and biases. AI models trained on preconceived notions of beauty standards and gender can reinforce existing stereotypes, potentially leading to biased outcomes in various domains, including hiring decisions.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-lab-grown-human-embryos-ethical-conundrums-and-emerging-frontiers-606451">Explained | Lab-grown human embryos: Ethical conundrums and emerging frontiers</a>

"Facial photographs are commonly available to potential employers, and those involved in hiring decisions self-declare a willingness to discriminate based on ideology. Members of the public may thus be aided by recognising what elements of their photographs could affect their chances of employment," write the researchers.&nbsp;The study's results also shed light on the implications of advanced technologies, such as AI, in reinforcing perceptions about specific demographics.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to push the boundaries of what was once thought impossible. Its remarkable prediction capabilities have captured widespread attention.

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to push the boundaries of what was once thought impossible. Its remarkable prediction capabilities have captured widespread attention. From predicting stock market trends to diagnosing diseases, the technology has demonstrated an uncanny ability to analyse vast amounts of data and make accurate forecasts. Now, new research conducted by a team of researchers from Denmark and Sweden suggests that artificial intelligence may be able to predict a person's political views based on their appearance, posing potential privacy concerns. Study findings The study found that the AI model accurately predicted the political affiliations of people in around 61 per cent of cases. As per the research published in the journal Nature, variations in facial expressions were linked to political views. The model concluded that, due to their smiles, "both male and female right-wing composites appeared happier than their left-wing counterparts", while liberal candidates displayed more neutral expressions. Women who exhibited a facial expression of contempt — neutral eyes and one corner of the lips lifted — were associated with more liberal politics by the model. Also read | Previously undocumented effect of IVF uncovered; helps 1-in-5 women conceive naturally second time around The researchers also observed a correlation between a candidate's level of attractiveness and their political ideology. As per Business Insider, women deemed attractive by their beauty scores were predicted to have conservative views, although there was no similar correlation found between men's attractiveness and right-wing leanings. "Politicians on the right have been found to be more attractive than those on the left," states the study. What data set was used? The study aimed to demonstrate the privacy threat resulting from the combination of deep learning techniques and easily accessible photographs. For this purpose, the researchers used a dataset of 3,233 images of Danish political candidates and employed facial recognition and predictive analytics to assess facial expressions and attractiveness scores. How is this ability a threat? The findings raise concerns about how AI can perpetuate stereotypes and biases. AI models trained on preconceived notions of beauty standards and gender can reinforce existing stereotypes, potentially leading to biased outcomes in various domains, including hiring decisions. Also read | Explained | Lab-grown human embryos: Ethical conundrums and emerging frontiers "Facial photographs are commonly available to potential employers, and those involved in hiring decisions self-declare a willingness to discriminate based on ideology. Members of the public may thus be aided by recognising what elements of their photographs could affect their chances of employment," write the researchers. The study's results also shed light on the implications of advanced technologies, such as AI, in reinforcing perceptions about specific demographics. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Research suggests AI can predict political views based on facial analysis, raising privacy concerns

Doctors are held in high regard across the globe. Their hard work and drive to save the patients are&nbsp;the source of awe, and in some cultures, they are even revered as 'living' gods. However, not even they can predict a patient's chances of death. However, a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool developed by a team at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine claims to hold the capability to do just that.

As per a report by the news agency AFP, the AI-based tool has shown promising results in reading physicians' notes and accurately predicting patients' risk of death, readmission to the hospital, and other important outcomes related to their care.&nbsp;

<h2>NYUTron</h2>

The software, known as NYUTron, is currently being used by NYU's affiliated hospitals in New York. The team behind this amazing tool hopes that one day it will become a standard component of healthcare practices.

A study published in the journal Nature highlights the predictive capabilities of this AI tool.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ai-attempts-to-bring-dead-back-to-life-give-people-closure-601951">AI attempts to bring dead back to life, give people closure</a>

Talking to AFP, lead author Eric Oermann, a neurosurgeon and computer scientist at NYU, explained that while predictive models in medicine have existed for some time, they are not widely used due to the challenges of organising and formatting the required data.

However, the team realised that physicians consistently write detailed notes about their clinical observations and patient interactions. This, as per the team, can be a valuable source of data for building predictive models.

"One thing that's common in medicine everywhere, is physicians write notes about what they've seen in clinic, what they've discussed with patients," said Oermann.

"So our basic insight was, can we start with medical notes as our source of data, and then build predictive models on top of it?"

<h2>How did they achieve this feat?</h2>

NYUTron is basically a large language model. To train it, researchers used millions of clinical notes from the health records of 387,000 patients treated at NYU Langone hospitals between January 2011 and May 2020.

These notes encompassed various types of records written by doctors, including progress notes, radiology reports, and discharge instructions, resulting in a massive corpus of 4.1 billion words.&nbsp;

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Using this data, the software made predictions which were then evaluated against real outcomes retrospectively.

One of the significant challenges the software faced was interpreting the diverse natural language used by physicians, which often includes unique abbreviations and variations.

<h2>The results?</h2>

Overall, NYUTron exhibited impressive performance, correctly identifying 95 per cent of patients who died in the hospital before discharge and predicting 80 per cent of patients who would be readmitted within 30 days.&nbsp;

Furthermore, NYUTron accurately estimated the actual length of stay for 79 per cent of patients, correctly identified 87 per cent of cases where insurance coverage was denied, and accurately recognized 89 per cent of cases where patients had additional conditions accompanying their primary disease.

It surpassed the predictions made by most doctors and outperformed non-AI computer models currently in use.&nbsp;

<h2>Can artificial intelligence&nbsp;replace doctors?</h2>

Interestingly, no. The tool was outperformed by the most experienced physician in the study, who achieved results exceeding the model's predictions.

As per Oermann, "the most senior physician who's actually a very famous physician, he had superhuman performance, better than the model."

Oermann emphasised that AI can never replace the physician-patient relationship. Instead, AI tools like NYUTron aim to "provide more information for physicians seamlessly at the point of care so they can make more informed decisions."&nbsp;He remarked that "the sweet spot for technology and medicine isn't that it's going to always deliver necessarily superhuman results, but it's going to really bring up that baseline."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Doctors are held in high regard across the globe. Their hard work and drive to save the patients are the source of awe, and in some cultures, they are even revered as 'living' gods.

Doctors are held in high regard across the globe. Their hard work and drive to save the patients are the source of awe, and in some cultures, they are even revered as 'living' gods. However, not even they can predict a patient's chances of death. However, a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool developed by a team at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine claims to hold the capability to do just that. As per a report by the news agency AFP, the AI-based tool has shown promising results in reading physicians' notes and accurately predicting patients' risk of death, readmission to the hospital, and other important outcomes related to their care. NYUTron The software, known as NYUTron, is currently being used by NYU's affiliated hospitals in New York. The team behind this amazing tool hopes that one day it will become a standard component of healthcare practices. A study published in the journal Nature highlights the predictive capabilities of this AI tool. Also read | AI attempts to bring dead back to life, give people closure Talking to AFP, lead author Eric Oermann, a neurosurgeon and computer scientist at NYU, explained that while predictive models in medicine have existed for some time, they are not widely used due to the challenges of organising and formatting the required data. However, the team realised that physicians consistently write detailed notes about their clinical observations and patient interactions. This, as per the team, can be a valuable source of data for building predictive models. "One thing that's common in medicine everywhere, is physicians write notes about what they've seen in clinic, what they've discussed with patients," said Oermann. "So our basic insight was, can we start with medical notes as our source of data, and then build predictive models on top of it?" How did they achieve this feat? NYUTron is basically a large language model. To train it, researchers used millions of clinical notes from the health records of 387,000 patients treated at NYU Langone hospitals between January 2011 and May 2020. These notes encompassed various types of records written by doctors, including progress notes, radiology reports, and discharge instructions, resulting in a massive corpus of 4.1 billion words. Also read | AI to pick suitable organs for transplants; help surgeons perform 300 more operations a year Using this data, the software made predictions which were then evaluated against real outcomes retrospectively. One of the significant challenges the software faced was interpreting the diverse natural language used by physicians, which often includes unique abbreviations and variations. The results? Overall, NYUTron exhibited impressive performance, correctly identifying 95 per cent of patients who died in the hospital before discharge and predicting 80 per cent of patients who would be readmitted within 30 days. Furthermore, NYUTron accurately estimated the actual length of stay for 79 per cent of patients, correctly identified 87 per cent of cases where insurance coverage was denied, and accurately recognized 89 per cent of cases where patients had additional conditions accompanying their primary disease. It surpassed the predictions made by most doctors and outperformed non-AI computer models currently in use. Can artificial intelligence replace doctors? Interestingly, no. The tool was outperformed by the most experienced physician in the study, who achieved results exceeding the model's predictions. As per Oermann, "the most senior physician who's actually a very famous physician, he had superhuman performance, better than the model." Oermann emphasised that AI can never replace the physician-patient relationship. Instead, AI tools like NYUTron aim to "provide more information for physicians seamlessly at the point of care so they can make more informed decisions." He remarked that "the sweet spot for technology and medicine isn't that it's going to always deliver necessarily superhuman results, but it's going to really bring up that baseline." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Groundbreaking AI tool predicts patients' chances of death. Can it replace doctors?

Loss unites humanity as nothing else can. We've all lost someone we loved, and their deaths have left a space nothing and no one can fill. However, many startups are using the new technological capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to try to do just that. As per an AFP news report, these firms use AI to allow you to talk to your deceased loved ones.&nbsp;

For someone dealing with the grief that comes with loss, this technology can be a boon, but it also raises ethical questions.

<h2>Re-animating the deceased</h2>

Nothing can bring back the people we've lost. However, this technology tries to capture a part of their essence, which can help provide you with some semblance of comfort.

There are many startups offering the service. One such company called DeepBrain AI has a programme called "Rememory".

As per the AI firm's head of development, Joseph Murphy, they create a digital replica of the deceased using hours of video.

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"We don't create new content," says Murphy. The company says that it only tries to replicate what the person would say when alive.&nbsp;

The company's "Rememory" programme&nbsp;adheres to a policy of not generating new content. This includes sentences or statements that the deceased individual would not have uttered or written during their lifetime.&nbsp;

"I'll call it a niche part of our business. It's not a growth area for us," he said as per AFP.

Another company, StoryFile,&nbsp;follows the same idea.

The company's head, Stephen Smith, said, "Our approach is to capture the wonder of an individual, then use the AI tools."&nbsp;

"It's a very fine ethical area that we're taking with great care," he added.&nbsp;StoryFile, claims several thousand users already use its Life service.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/saudi-arabia-launches-earth-and-space-science-studies-for-secondary-students-post-launch-of-astronauts-to-iss-601840">Saudi Arabia launches Earth and Space Science studies for secondary students</a>

Yet another similar service is called 'Replika'. It is developed by Russian engineer Eugenia Kyuda.

A few years back in 2015, Kyuda lost her best friend Roman to a tragic car accident. To deal with the grief, she developed a chatbot named 'Roman'. This chatbot was trained using thousands of text messages that her deceased friend had sent to loved ones.

After two years, Kyuda introduced Replika, a platform that provides highly advanced personalised conversational bots.

However, according to a spokesperson, Replika, unlike its predecessor Roman, "is not a platform made to recreate a lost loved one."

<h2>Is it only chatbots?</h2>

No. There are companies that are developing virtual clones.

One such company, Somnium Space, wants to create virtual clones of people while they are still alive. These clones would exist in a different world after the person passes away.&nbsp;

In a YouTube video announcing his product, Live Forever, CEO Artur Sychov acknowledged that this concept "It's not for everyone". He acknowledged that individual choices are involved.

"Do I want to meet my grandfather who's in AI? I don't know. But those who want that will be able to."

<h2>The ethical challenges</h2>

Thanks to regenerative technology, these AI avatars can say things the person never said in real life.

According to Joseph Murphy from DeepBrainAI, "These are philosophical challenges, not technical challenges".

"I would say that is a line right now that we do not plan on crossing, but who knows what the future holds?" he added.

Candi Cann, a professor at Baylor University who is studying this topic in South Korea, suggests that interacting with an AI clone of a person can be helpful for achieving closure, especially in "complicated" situations.

"I think it can be helpful to interact with an AI version of a person in order to get closure&nbsp;— particularly in situations where grief was complicated by abuse or trauma," said Cann.

Mari Dias, a professor of medical psychology at Johnson &amp; Wales University, asked her bereaved patients about their thoughts on virtual contact with their deceased loved ones. She revealed, that the&nbsp;most common answer is 'I don't trust AI. I'm afraid it's going to say something I'm not going to accept'. They express concerns and a lack of trust in AI. They fear that the AI avatar might say something they cannot accept, and they feel they have no control over the avatar's actions.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Loss unites humanity as nothing else can. We've all lost someone we loved, and their deaths have left a space nothing and no one can fill. However, many startups are using the new technological capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to try to do just that.

Loss unites humanity as nothing else can. We've all lost someone we loved, and their deaths have left a space nothing and no one can fill. However, many startups are using the new technological capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to try to do just that. As per an AFP news report, these firms use AI to allow you to talk to your deceased loved ones. For someone dealing with the grief that comes with loss, this technology can be a boon, but it also raises ethical questions. Re-animating the deceased Nothing can bring back the people we've lost. However, this technology tries to capture a part of their essence, which can help provide you with some semblance of comfort. There are many startups offering the service. One such company called DeepBrain AI has a programme called "Rememory". As per the AI firm's head of development, Joseph Murphy, they create a digital replica of the deceased using hours of video. Also read | Real Terminators? Synthetic self-healing skin likely to create killer robots on battlefield "We don't create new content," says Murphy. The company says that it only tries to replicate what the person would say when alive. The company's "Rememory" programme adheres to a policy of not generating new content. This includes sentences or statements that the deceased individual would not have uttered or written during their lifetime. "I'll call it a niche part of our business. It's not a growth area for us," he said as per AFP. Another company, StoryFile, follows the same idea. The company's head, Stephen Smith, said, "Our approach is to capture the wonder of an individual, then use the AI tools." "It's a very fine ethical area that we're taking with great care," he added. StoryFile, claims several thousand users already use its Life service. Also read | Saudi Arabia launches Earth and Space Science studies for secondary students Yet another similar service is called 'Replika'. It is developed by Russian engineer Eugenia Kyuda. A few years back in 2015, Kyuda lost her best friend Roman to a tragic car accident. To deal with the grief, she developed a chatbot named 'Roman'. This chatbot was trained using thousands of text messages that her deceased friend had sent to loved ones. After two years, Kyuda introduced Replika, a platform that provides highly advanced personalised conversational bots. However, according to a spokesperson, Replika, unlike its predecessor Roman, "is not a platform made to recreate a lost loved one." Is it only chatbots? No. There are companies that are developing virtual clones. One such company, Somnium Space, wants to create virtual clones of people while they are still alive. These clones would exist in a different world after the person passes away. In a YouTube video announcing his product, Live Forever, CEO Artur Sychov acknowledged that this concept "It's not for everyone". He acknowledged that individual choices are involved. "Do I want to meet my grandfather who's in AI? I don't know. But those who want that will be able to." The ethical challenges Thanks to regenerative technology, these AI avatars can say things the person never said in real life. According to Joseph Murphy from DeepBrainAI, "These are philosophical challenges, not technical challenges". "I would say that is a line right now that we do not plan on crossing, but who knows what the future holds?" he added. Candi Cann, a professor at Baylor University who is studying this topic in South Korea, suggests that interacting with an AI clone of a person can be helpful for achieving closure, especially in "complicated" situations. "I think it can be helpful to interact with an AI version of a person in order to get closure — particularly in situations where grief was complicated by abuse or trauma," said Cann. Mari Dias, a professor of medical psychology at Johnson & Wales University, asked her bereaved patients about their thoughts on virtual contact with their deceased loved ones. She revealed, that the most common answer is 'I don't trust AI. I'm afraid it's going to say something I'm not going to accept'. They express concerns and a lack of trust in AI. They fear that the AI avatar might say something they cannot accept, and they feel they have no control over the avatar's actions. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

AI attempts to bring dead back to life, give people closure

Experts have raised concerns that next year's elections in the UK and the US may be plagued by a surge of AI-driven disinformation. They warn that the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence generated images, text, and deep fake videos, spread by swarms of AI-powered propaganda bots, could have a significant impact.&nbsp;

In recent days, concerns about AI have soared, particularly following breakthroughs in generative AI technology.&nbsp;

<h2>Why is AI a concern now?</h2>

As per the Guardian, while earlier waves of "propaganda bots" relied on simple pre-written messages or "paid trolls", tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney hold the ability to produce realistic text, images, and even voice on command. This has raised concerns about interactive election interference on a large scale.

A study by NewsGuard, an organisation that monitors misinformation, tested ChatGPT and Google's Bard chatbot and found that they were capable of generating false news narratives when prompted. This highlights the potential for AI tools to mass-produce variations of fake stories, which raises concerns about the deliberate dissemination of false information.

On Friday, NewsGuard also announced that there has been a two-fold increase in AI-generated news and information websites, which have more than doubled to 125 in two weeks.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-leaders-call-for-responsible-use-of-generative-artificial-intelligence-594471">G7 leaders call for 'responsible' use of generative Artificial Intelligence</a>

<h2>OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's warning about&nbsp;ChatGPT and other AI models</h2>

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and the creator of ChatGPT, warned that the latest generation of AI models has the potential to manipulate users.

Highlighting the need for regulation, public education, and transparency regarding the use of AI, he said, "The general ability of these models to manipulate and persuade, to provide one-on-one interactive disinformation is a significant area of concern."

"Regulation would be quite wise: people need to know if they’re talking to an AI, or if content that they’re looking at is generated or not. The ability to really model … to predict humans, I think is going to require a combination of companies doing the right thing, regulation and public education," he added.

<h2>AI-powered disinformation</h2>

Professor Michael Wooldridge of the Alan Turing Institute identified AI-powered disinformation as his primary concern about the technology. He noted that generative AI can generate disinformation on an "industrial scale".

"Right now in terms of my worries for AI, it is number one on the list. We have elections coming up in the UK and the US and we know social media is an incredibly powerful conduit for misinformation. But we now know that generative AI can produce disinformation on an industrial scale."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-the-hell-gen-z-more-likely-to-believe-in-damnation-after-death-finds-study-594238">What the 'hell'? Gen Z more likely to believe in damnation after death, finds study</a>

He said chatbots like ChatGPT can produce tailored misinformation targeted at specific political groups or demographics, adding that "it's an afternoon's work for somebody with a bit of programming experience to create fake identities and just start generating these fake news stories."

<h2>AI-generated images</h2>

AI-generated imagery is another problem. Remember the pictures of Donald Trump getting arrested and the Pope in a 'dope' puffer jacket? That's the work of artificial intelligence.

Earlier this year, as these images went viral,&nbsp;many people&nbsp;raised concerns about the potential use of generated imagery to cause confusion and misinformation.

However, Sam Altman, while addressing US Senators, suggested that these concerns might be exaggerated or blown out of proportion. He compared AI-generated images to the earlier adoption of Photoshop.

He said that people eventually developed an understanding that images could be manipulated.

"Photoshop came on to the scene a long time ago and for a while people were really quite fooled by Photoshopped images – then pretty quickly developed an understanding that images might be Photoshopped."

However, in spite of Altman's statement, as AI capabilities advance, there are concerns that it is becoming&nbsp;increasingly difficult to trust things on social media and that as the technology develops further, the difficulty in differentiating between misinformation and purposeful disinformation will only increase.

<h2>AI and voice cloning</h2>

In January, voice cloning gained significant attention when a manipulated video of US President Joe Biden surfaced. The original footage, in which he discussed sending tanks to Ukraine, was altered using voice simulation technology to make it appear as though he was attacking transgender people. The doctored video was widely circulated on social media platforms.

The growing availability of voice cloning services, including the cloning of corporate executives and public figures, raises concerns about its potential misuse.

Recorded Future, a US cybersecurity firm, warned that rogue actors could sell voice cloning services online.

Alexander Leslie, an analyst with the firm, said that the technology is improving and poses a heightened threat as the US presidential election approaches.&nbsp;

"Without widespread education and awareness, this could become a real threat vector as we head into the presidential election," he said.

Steven Brill, the co-CEO of NewsGuard, expressed concern about the potential misuse of chatbot technology by malicious individuals to create varied versions of fake stories. He said, "the danger is someone using it deliberately to pump out these false narratives".

(With inputs from agencies)

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Experts have raised concerns that next year's elections in the UK and the US may be plagued by a surge of AI-driven disinformation. They warn that the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence generated images, text, and deep fake videos, spread by swarms of AI-powered propaganda bots, could have a significant impact.

Experts have raised concerns that next year's elections in the UK and the US may be plagued by a surge of AI-driven disinformation. They warn that the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence generated images, text, and deep fake videos, spread by swarms of AI-powered propaganda bots, could have a significant impact. In recent days, concerns about AI have soared, particularly following breakthroughs in generative AI technology. Why is AI a concern now? As per the Guardian, while earlier waves of "propaganda bots" relied on simple pre-written messages or "paid trolls", tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney hold the ability to produce realistic text, images, and even voice on command. This has raised concerns about interactive election interference on a large scale. A study by NewsGuard, an organisation that monitors misinformation, tested ChatGPT and Google's Bard chatbot and found that they were capable of generating false news narratives when prompted. This highlights the potential for AI tools to mass-produce variations of fake stories, which raises concerns about the deliberate dissemination of false information. On Friday, NewsGuard also announced that there has been a two-fold increase in AI-generated news and information websites, which have more than doubled to 125 in two weeks. Also read | G7 leaders call for 'responsible' use of generative Artificial Intelligence OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's warning about ChatGPT and other AI models Earlier this week, on Tuesday, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and the creator of ChatGPT, warned that the latest generation of AI models has the potential to manipulate users. Highlighting the need for regulation, public education, and transparency regarding the use of AI, he said, "The general ability of these models to manipulate and persuade, to provide one-on-one interactive disinformation is a significant area of concern." "Regulation would be quite wise: people need to know if they’re talking to an AI, or if content that they’re looking at is generated or not. The ability to really model … to predict humans, I think is going to require a combination of companies doing the right thing, regulation and public education," he added. AI-powered disinformation Professor Michael Wooldridge of the Alan Turing Institute identified AI-powered disinformation as his primary concern about the technology. He noted that generative AI can generate disinformation on an "industrial scale". "Right now in terms of my worries for AI, it is number one on the list. We have elections coming up in the UK and the US and we know social media is an incredibly powerful conduit for misinformation. But we now know that generative AI can produce disinformation on an industrial scale." Also read | What the 'hell'? Gen Z more likely to believe in damnation after death, finds study He said chatbots like ChatGPT can produce tailored misinformation targeted at specific political groups or demographics, adding that "it's an afternoon's work for somebody with a bit of programming experience to create fake identities and just start generating these fake news stories." AI-generated images AI-generated imagery is another problem. Remember the pictures of Donald Trump getting arrested and the Pope in a 'dope' puffer jacket? That's the work of artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, as these images went viral, many people raised concerns about the potential use of generated imagery to cause confusion and misinformation. However, Sam Altman, while addressing US Senators, suggested that these concerns might be exaggerated or blown out of proportion. He compared AI-generated images to the earlier adoption of Photoshop. He said that people eventually developed an understanding that images could be manipulated. "Photoshop came on to the scene a long time ago and for a while people were really quite fooled by Photoshopped images – then pretty quickly developed an understanding that images might be Photoshopped." However, in spite of Altman's statement, as AI capabilities advance, there are concerns that it is becoming increasingly difficult to trust things on social media and that as the technology develops further, the difficulty in differentiating between misinformation and purposeful disinformation will only increase. AI and voice cloning In January, voice cloning gained significant attention when a manipulated video of US President Joe Biden surfaced. The original footage, in which he discussed sending tanks to Ukraine, was altered using voice simulation technology to make it appear as though he was attacking transgender people. The doctored video was widely circulated on social media platforms. The growing availability of voice cloning services, including the cloning of corporate executives and public figures, raises concerns about its potential misuse. Recorded Future, a US cybersecurity firm, warned that rogue actors could sell voice cloning services online. Alexander Leslie, an analyst with the firm, said that the technology is improving and poses a heightened threat as the US presidential election approaches. "Without widespread education and awareness, this could become a real threat vector as we head into the presidential election," he said. Steven Brill, the co-CEO of NewsGuard, expressed concern about the potential misuse of chatbot technology by malicious individuals to create varied versions of fake stories. He said, "the danger is someone using it deliberately to pump out these false narratives". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WION Explains: Upcoming US, UK elections and the threat of AI-fuelled disinformation

World's foremost public health agency, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, cautioned against using artificial intelligence (AI) for public healthcare. It said that the data used by AI to reach decisions could be biased or misused and advised caution while using the technology.

As per the WHO, risks must be examined carefully before using AI-generated large language model tools (LLMs) like "ChatGPT, Bard, Bert and many others" to protect and promote human well-being and protect public health.

The health agency said that while it was enthusiastic about the potential AI holds, it has concerns over how the technology will be used.

It said, "There is concern that caution that would normally be exercised for any new technology is not being exercised consistently with LLMs."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/raise-alarm-on-ai-threats-academics-appeal-health-professionals-591092">'Raise alarm on AI threats', academics appeal to health professionals</a>

"This includes widespread adherence to key values of transparency, inclusion, public engagement, expert supervision, and rigorous evaluation."

As per the WHO, the "precipitous" adoption of untested AI systems could lead to errors by healthcare workers, which could harm patients. This, it warned, could "cause harm to patients, erode trust in AI and thereby undermine (or delay) the potential long-term benefits and uses of such technologies around the world."

It&nbsp;further cautioned that artificial intelligence LLMs like ChatGPT and Bard that imitate understanding, processing, and producing human communication could be misused to "generate and disseminate highly convincing disinformation".&nbsp;

This disinformation, as per the WHO, can be in textual, audio or video form and would be difficult to differentiate from reliable health content for the public.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/microsoft-expands-ai-access-public-can-now-use-enhanced-features-without-signing-up-for-waitlist-589755">Microsoft expands AI access, allows users enhanced features without waitlist sign-up</a>

Reiterating the importance of applying ethical principles and appropriate governance, the World Health Organization specified six core principles it has identified as imperative while using AI in healthcare. These are: protect autonomy; promote human well-being, human safety, and the public interest; ensure transparency, explainability, and intelligibility; foster responsibility and accountability; ensure inclusiveness and equity; promote AI that is responsive and sustainable.

The health agency said that while it is committing to harnessing new technologies, including AI and digital health, towards the improvement of human health, it recommends that policymakers must ensure patient safety and protection.

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World's foremost public health agency, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, cautioned against using artificial intelligence (AI) for public healthcare.

World's foremost public health agency, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, cautioned against using artificial intelligence (AI) for public healthcare. It said that the data used by AI to reach decisions could be biased or misused and advised caution while using the technology. As per the WHO, risks must be examined carefully before using AI-generated large language model tools (LLMs) like "ChatGPT, Bard, Bert and many others" to protect and promote human well-being and protect public health. The health agency said that while it was enthusiastic about the potential AI holds, it has concerns over how the technology will be used. It said, "There is concern that caution that would normally be exercised for any new technology is not being exercised consistently with LLMs." Also read | 'Raise alarm on AI threats', academics appeal to health professionals "This includes widespread adherence to key values of transparency, inclusion, public engagement, expert supervision, and rigorous evaluation." As per the WHO, the "precipitous" adoption of untested AI systems could lead to errors by healthcare workers, which could harm patients. This, it warned, could "cause harm to patients, erode trust in AI and thereby undermine (or delay) the potential long-term benefits and uses of such technologies around the world." It further cautioned that artificial intelligence LLMs like ChatGPT and Bard that imitate understanding, processing, and producing human communication could be misused to "generate and disseminate highly convincing disinformation". This disinformation, as per the WHO, can be in textual, audio or video form and would be difficult to differentiate from reliable health content for the public. Also read | Microsoft expands AI access, allows users enhanced features without waitlist sign-up Reiterating the importance of applying ethical principles and appropriate governance, the World Health Organization specified six core principles it has identified as imperative while using AI in healthcare. These are: protect autonomy; promote human well-being, human safety, and the public interest; ensure transparency, explainability, and intelligibility; foster responsibility and accountability; ensure inclusiveness and equity; promote AI that is responsive and sustainable. The health agency said that while it is committing to harnessing new technologies, including AI and digital health, towards the improvement of human health, it recommends that policymakers must ensure patient safety and protection. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

World Health Organization issues warning, says AI in healthcare poses risks, could be misused

Italy has set aside a whopping 30 million euros to help unemployed people improve their skills in a world where technology is developing at an unprecedented pace and it seems that no job is safe from automation. As a result, nations around the world are stepping up their efforts to prepare for the potential AI replacement threat.

Italy to invest 30 million euros to tackle automation

Microsoft has now expanded public access to its generative artificial intelligence programmes and the AI-enhanced features are now available for anyone to use without a waitlist.&nbsp;

In a blog post published on Thursday, Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president of Microsoft, announced that the features of the company's Bing search engine and Edge internet browser are now open for anyone to use.

"This means that it will now be easier than ever for everyone to try the new Bing and Edge by simply signing into Bing with your Microsoft account," he said.

According to him,&nbsp;the services have been enhanced with the ability to work with images as well as texts. In the future, Microsoft intends to add video features to the mix.

The executive said that a Bing "Image Creator" was recently integrated into Microsoft's AI chatbot's repertoire, which enables it to generate visual, as well as written content.&nbsp; Additionally, the company will be expanding Image Creator's capabilities so that users can use their native languages.

"We are expanding Image Creator to all languages in Bing," said Mehdi, adding, "So, now, you can create images in your native language."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/artificial-intelligence-a-threat-to-journalism-press-freedom-index-report-588645">Artificial Intelligence a threat to journalism: Press Freedom Index report</a>

Microsoft has so far seen people make more than 200 million images with Bing creator software, Mehdi said.

"We believe innovating and learning in the open is part of a responsible approach," he added.

"Our teams continue to work to address issues such as misinformation and disinformation, content blocking, data safety and preventing the promotion of harmful or discriminatory content in line with our AI principles."

Watch |&nbsp;Which jobs will AI replace?

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The developments come as experts flag the dangers of AI, which include but are not limited to potential uses for fraud, with voice clones, deep-fake videos and convincing written messages.

In March of this year, a range of experts urged a pause in the development of AI systems and asked for time to make sure that the systems are safe.

Over 1,000 people, including billionaire Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, were among the signatories of the open letter prompted by generative AI technology from Microsoft-backed firm OpenAI.&nbsp;The letter claimed that "AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-microsoft-ceos-called-to-ai-meeting-at-white-house-588500">Google, Microsoft CEOs called to AI meeting at White House</a>

"Powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable," it said.

The dangers have even prompted Geoffrey Hinton, a prominent computer scientist often dubbed as "the godfather of artificial intelligence" to quit his job at Google to speak out about the dangers of the technology.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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Microsoft has now expanded public access to its generative artificial intelligence programmes and the AI-enhanced features are now available for anyone to use without a waitlist.

Microsoft has now expanded public access to its generative artificial intelligence programmes and the AI-enhanced features are now available for anyone to use without a waitlist. In a blog post published on Thursday, Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president of Microsoft, announced that the features of the company's Bing search engine and Edge internet browser are now open for anyone to use. "This means that it will now be easier than ever for everyone to try the new Bing and Edge by simply signing into Bing with your Microsoft account," he said. According to him, the services have been enhanced with the ability to work with images as well as texts. In the future, Microsoft intends to add video features to the mix. The executive said that a Bing "Image Creator" was recently integrated into Microsoft's AI chatbot's repertoire, which enables it to generate visual, as well as written content. Additionally, the company will be expanding Image Creator's capabilities so that users can use their native languages. "We are expanding Image Creator to all languages in Bing," said Mehdi, adding, "So, now, you can create images in your native language." Also read | Artificial Intelligence a threat to journalism: Press Freedom Index report Microsoft has so far seen people make more than 200 million images with Bing creator software, Mehdi said. "We believe innovating and learning in the open is part of a responsible approach," he added. "Our teams continue to work to address issues such as misinformation and disinformation, content blocking, data safety and preventing the promotion of harmful or discriminatory content in line with our AI principles." Watch | Which jobs will AI replace? The developments come as experts flag the dangers of AI, which include but are not limited to potential uses for fraud, with voice clones, deep-fake videos and convincing written messages. In March of this year, a range of experts urged a pause in the development of AI systems and asked for time to make sure that the systems are safe. Over 1,000 people, including billionaire Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, were among the signatories of the open letter prompted by generative AI technology from Microsoft-backed firm OpenAI. The letter claimed that "AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity." Also read | Google, Microsoft CEOs called to AI meeting at White House "Powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable," it said. The dangers have even prompted Geoffrey Hinton, a prominent computer scientist often dubbed as "the godfather of artificial intelligence" to quit his job at Google to speak out about the dangers of the technology. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Microsoft expands AI access, allows users enhanced features without waitlist sign-up

What works for one may not for another. This is especially true when it comes to mental health problems like depression and antidepressants. These drugs that can make a person's life significantly better often come with serious side effects. To avoid this and ensure that medications work effectively, an Israeli health-tech company is using Artificial Intelligence to match antidepressants to patients.

According to World Health Organization, globally, more than 280 million people suffer from depression. However, as per estimates for two-thirds of them, the initial prescriptions for depression or anxiety may not work properly.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/research-reveals-how-artificial-intelligence-can-help-look-for-alien-lifeforms-on-mars-and-other-planets-582992">Research reveals how Artificial Intelligence can help look for alien lifeforms on Mars and other planets</a>

The groundbreaking AI-based technology uses brain cells generated from patients' blood samples which are then tested for biomarkers when exposed to various antidepressants.&nbsp;

Genetika+, the company then analyses the patient's medical history and genetic data to determine the best drug and correct dosage for a doctor to prescribe.

As per a BBC report, the AI-based technology is still in development and is set to be launched commercially in 2024.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/heres-how-ai-can-help-modern-day-goldilocks-get-a-good-nights-sleep-578610">Here's how Artificial Intelligence can help modern-day Goldilocks get a good night's sleep</a>

The company has secured funding from the European Union's European Research Council and European Innovation Council. It is also working with pharmaceutical companies to develop precision drugs.

"We are in the right time to be able to marry the latest computer technology and biological technology advances," says neuroscientist Dr Cohen Solal, who is the co-founder and chief executive of Genetika+. Solal says that AI can help "solve the mystery" of which drugs work.

Dr Heba Sailem, senior lecturer of biomedical AI and data science at King's College London says that the potential for AI to transform the global pharmaceutical industry is huge.

(With inputs from agencies)

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What works for one may not for another. This is especially true when it comes to mental health problems like depression and antidepressants. These drugs that can make a person's life significantly better often come with serious side effects.

What works for one may not for another. This is especially true when it comes to mental health problems like depression and antidepressants. These drugs that can make a person's life significantly better often come with serious side effects. To avoid this and ensure that medications work effectively, an Israeli health-tech company is using Artificial Intelligence to match antidepressants to patients. According to World Health Organization, globally, more than 280 million people suffer from depression. However, as per estimates for two-thirds of them, the initial prescriptions for depression or anxiety may not work properly. Also read | Research reveals how Artificial Intelligence can help look for alien lifeforms on Mars and other planets The groundbreaking AI-based technology uses brain cells generated from patients' blood samples which are then tested for biomarkers when exposed to various antidepressants. Genetika+, the company then analyses the patient's medical history and genetic data to determine the best drug and correct dosage for a doctor to prescribe. As per a BBC report, the AI-based technology is still in development and is set to be launched commercially in 2024. Also read | Here's how Artificial Intelligence can help modern-day Goldilocks get a good night's sleep The company has secured funding from the European Union's European Research Council and European Innovation Council. It is also working with pharmaceutical companies to develop precision drugs. "We are in the right time to be able to marry the latest computer technology and biological technology advances," says neuroscientist Dr Cohen Solal, who is the co-founder and chief executive of Genetika+. Solal says that AI can help "solve the mystery" of which drugs work. Dr Heba Sailem, senior lecturer of biomedical AI and data science at King's College London says that the potential for AI to transform the global pharmaceutical industry is huge. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Artificial Intelligence helps 'solve the mystery,' match medicine to patient, aid in treatment of depression

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere, and we mean everywhere. From virtual friends to chatbots, to image and video generation, AI is making headlines. But did you think it could ever be a part of sleep? One of the most basic needs of any living being is good rest. For many, sleep is an actual hobby. What if artificial intelligence takes over this part of our lives&nbsp;too? No, AI won't be doing the sleeping for us, but it would be contributing to how we sleep.

Believe it or not, artificial intelligence is already a part of the industry. There exist special mattresses that are equipped with AI technology and help you sleep better.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;How AI and Automation will impact jobs in the future<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-ai-and-automation-will-impact-jobs-in-the-future-518820/embed" width="560"></iframe>

These AI mattresses can detect, and monitor our sleep cycles, adjust their temperature according to our needs and even adapt their firmness according to what we need.

It is not fiction; in 2022, a hotel in New York made headlines for its suite that is dedicated to the pleasure of sleep. One of the key features of this room is a mattress from a company called Bryte. The mattress is integrated with artificial intelligence technology.&nbsp;

What is so special about this artificial intelligence-equipped mattress?

The answer is, so much.&nbsp;

Do you remember the story of Goldilocks and how after eating the bear's porridge, she tried out two mattresses before finding her perfect fit? Well, no need to be a modern-day Goldilocks. AI has you covered.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/artificial-intelligence-could-replace-300-million-jobs-worldwide-goldman-sachs-report-576795">AI could replace 300 million jobs worldwide, says report. Is your livelihood at risk?</a>

The core of this AI mattress, as per AFP, features 90 cushions, each of which can adapt to the user's individual needs in terms of firmness or softness. This could especially be a boon for couples with different tastes in mattress firmness.&nbsp;

Additionally, it can also adjust its temperatures as per your need, and all its features can be controlled via an app.&nbsp;

Another company, Sleep Number, also unveiled an AI mattress last year. This one can detect health problems and make appropriate adjustments.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ai-generated-images-of-donald-trumps-arrest-go-viral-take-a-look-574490">AI predicts what Donald Trump's arrest would look like. Take a look at the viral images!</a>

However, mattresses are not the only way artificial intelligence is being incorporated into the sleep industry.&nbsp;

A study by researchers from the University of Copenhagen's Department of Computer Science in collaboration with the Danish Centre for Sleep Medicine at the danish hospital Rigshospitalet has developed an AI-based algorithm that can improve the diagnosis, treatment and overall understanding of sleep disorders.

While these technological advancements are amazing, they are also expensive. So, it will be a few years till they become commonplace.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Artificial Intelligence is everywhere, and we mean everywhere. From virtual friends to chatbots, to image and video generation, AI is making headlines. But did you think it could ever be a part of sleep?

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere, and we mean everywhere. From virtual friends to chatbots, to image and video generation, AI is making headlines. But did you think it could ever be a part of sleep? One of the most basic needs of any living being is good rest. For many, sleep is an actual hobby. What if artificial intelligence takes over this part of our lives too? No, AI won't be doing the sleeping for us, but it would be contributing to how we sleep. Believe it or not, artificial intelligence is already a part of the industry. There exist special mattresses that are equipped with AI technology and help you sleep better. Watch | How AI and Automation will impact jobs in the future These AI mattresses can detect, and monitor our sleep cycles, adjust their temperature according to our needs and even adapt their firmness according to what we need. It is not fiction; in 2022, a hotel in New York made headlines for its suite that is dedicated to the pleasure of sleep. One of the key features of this room is a mattress from a company called Bryte. The mattress is integrated with artificial intelligence technology. What is so special about this artificial intelligence-equipped mattress? The answer is, so much. Do you remember the story of Goldilocks and how after eating the bear's porridge, she tried out two mattresses before finding her perfect fit? Well, no need to be a modern-day Goldilocks. AI has you covered. Also read | AI could replace 300 million jobs worldwide, says report. Is your livelihood at risk? The core of this AI mattress, as per AFP, features 90 cushions, each of which can adapt to the user's individual needs in terms of firmness or softness. This could especially be a boon for couples with different tastes in mattress firmness. Additionally, it can also adjust its temperatures as per your need, and all its features can be controlled via an app. Another company, Sleep Number, also unveiled an AI mattress last year. This one can detect health problems and make appropriate adjustments. Also read | AI predicts what Donald Trump's arrest would look like. Take a look at the viral images! However, mattresses are not the only way artificial intelligence is being incorporated into the sleep industry. A study by researchers from the University of Copenhagen's Department of Computer Science in collaboration with the Danish Centre for Sleep Medicine at the danish hospital Rigshospitalet has developed an AI-based algorithm that can improve the diagnosis, treatment and overall understanding of sleep disorders. While these technological advancements are amazing, they are also expensive. So, it will be a few years till they become commonplace. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Here's how Artificial Intelligence can help modern-day Goldilocks get a good night's sleep

The future is AI. Artificial intelligence is changing the landscape of the future. The future in which there will be minimal human intervention in every area. AI is not only making humans’ physical work irrelevant, but it is also challenging the human brain. It can potentially leave 800 million of us jobless by 2030 across the world, according to a research. This situation can be more alarming in developing countries.

Jobs under threat due to AI & automation. Is it the right time to have UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME?

Walmart said on Tuesday (April 4) that 65 per cent of its stores will be serviced by automation by the end of the fiscal year 2026. The latest announcement comes just days after the grocery chain announced that it plans to lay off more than 2,000 people at stores that fulfil online orders.&nbsp;

The announcement, amid the US retail giant's annual investor meeting in Tampa, Florida, comes as Walmart increasingly uses its huge stores to handle online-order deliveries and invests heavily in automation to speed up order processing at its e-commerce fulfilment facilities.

It was not immediately clear if this move would lead to more layoffs at the country's biggest private employer, with about 1.7 million US&nbsp;workers and another 60,000 abroad. The company said the move&nbsp;would reduce the need for lower-paid roles.

"As the changes are implemented across the business, one of the outcomes is roles that require less physical labour but have a higher rate of pay," the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer said in a filing.

"Over time, the company anticipates increased output per person&nbsp;due to automation, while maintaining or even increasing its number of associates as new roles are created," it added.

The company said that about 55 per cent of packages that are processed through fulfilment centres will be moved through automated facilities by January 2026. It said that this would improve unit cost averages by about 20 per cent.

"This increased efficiency will not only support better inventory management, but it will also support Walmart's rapidly growing e-commerce business," Stephens Inc analyst Ben Bienvenu wrote in a note.

(With inputs from agencies)

 
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Walmart said on Tuesday (April 4) that 65 per cent of its stores will be serviced by automation by the end of the fiscal year 2026. The latest announcement comes just days after the grocery chain announced that it plans to lay off more than 2,000 people at stores that fulfil online orders.

Walmart said on Tuesday (April 4) that 65 per cent of its stores will be serviced by automation by the end of the fiscal year 2026. The latest announcement comes just days after the grocery chain announced that it plans to lay off more than 2,000 people at stores that fulfil online orders. The announcement, amid the US retail giant's annual investor meeting in Tampa, Florida, comes as Walmart increasingly uses its huge stores to handle online-order deliveries and invests heavily in automation to speed up order processing at its e-commerce fulfilment facilities. It was not immediately clear if this move would lead to more layoffs at the country's biggest private employer, with about 1.7 million US workers and another 60,000 abroad. The company said the move would reduce the need for lower-paid roles. "As the changes are implemented across the business, one of the outcomes is roles that require less physical labour but have a higher rate of pay," the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer said in a filing. "Over time, the company anticipates increased output per person due to automation, while maintaining or even increasing its number of associates as new roles are created," it added. The company said that about 55 per cent of packages that are processed through fulfilment centres will be moved through automated facilities by January 2026. It said that this would improve unit cost averages by about 20 per cent. "This increased efficiency will not only support better inventory management, but it will also support Walmart's rapidly growing e-commerce business," Stephens Inc analyst Ben Bienvenu wrote in a note. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Aiming for 65 per cent of stores to be automated by 2026: Walmart

With Artificial Intelligence gaining popularity globally, one question that comes up time and time again is whether AI will take over jobs from humans. A new report by investment bank Goldman Sachs has the answer, and it is not good news. The report, as per BBC, says that AI could potentially replace the equivalent of around 300 million full-time jobs. Roughly two-thirds of work in the US and Europe risk some degree of automation. Additionally, it may also lead to a productivity boom, with a seven per cent increase in the total annual value of goods and services produced globally over a 10-year period.

Watch |&nbsp;How AI and Automation will impact jobs in the future

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The report further cites research that says that today around 60 per cent of the workers are engaged in work that didn't even exist in 1940.&nbsp;

Quoting another piece of research, it points to the fact that technological advancements since 1980 have displaced "workers faster than it has created jobs," reports BBC. This, the report concludes, could mean that as AI advances further, it could reduce jobs in the short term.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-chatgpt-replace-journalists-in-breaking-stories-575750" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/can-chatgpt-replace-journalists-in-breaking-stories-575750&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwikqc6Cx__9AhV67zgGHaCXCh44FBAWegQIBhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw27l3JMQ_Q7oEhQ5_XsE8AR" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-chatgpt-replace-journalists-in-breaking-stories-575750" target="_blank">Can ChatGPT replace journalists in breaking stories?&nbsp;</a>

Goldman Sachs goes on to say that Generative AI's ability to create content such as images, videos, audio, text, and 3D models that are indistinguishable from human work is "a major advancement," and would have an impact on jobs everywhere.&nbsp;

As per the report, administrative and legal sectors will see the maximum impact with 46 per cent of administrative jobs and 44 per cent of legal jobs risking replacement by AI.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-artists-fight-ai-programs-that-copy-their-styles-576043" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-artists-fight-ai-programs-that-copy-their-styles-576043&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj5r_L0xv_9AhUGxDgGHTevAYo4ChAWegQIAhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3xg4AOD_zqa46lm2a-Itxo" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-artists-fight-ai-programs-that-copy-their-styles-576043" target="_blank">Artists fight&nbsp;AI&nbsp;programs that copy their styles&nbsp;</a>

Physically intensive professions are at low risk, with construction facing a six per cent threat while maintenance is looking at four per cent probable substitution.&nbsp;It further says that almost all occupations will be affected to at least some degree.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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With Artificial Intelligence gaining popularity globally, one question that comes up time and time again is whether AI will take over jobs from humans. A new report by investment bank Goldman Sachs has the answer, and it is not good news.

With Artificial Intelligence gaining popularity globally, one question that comes up time and time again is whether AI will take over jobs from humans. A new report by investment bank Goldman Sachs has the answer, and it is not good news. The report, as per BBC, says that AI could potentially replace the equivalent of around 300 million full-time jobs. Roughly two-thirds of work in the US and Europe risk some degree of automation. Additionally, it may also lead to a productivity boom, with a seven per cent increase in the total annual value of goods and services produced globally over a 10-year period. Watch | How AI and Automation will impact jobs in the future The report further cites research that says that today around 60 per cent of the workers are engaged in work that didn't even exist in 1940. Quoting another piece of research, it points to the fact that technological advancements since 1980 have displaced "workers faster than it has created jobs," reports BBC. This, the report concludes, could mean that as AI advances further, it could reduce jobs in the short term. Also read | Can ChatGPT replace journalists in breaking stories? Goldman Sachs goes on to say that Generative AI's ability to create content such as images, videos, audio, text, and 3D models that are indistinguishable from human work is "a major advancement," and would have an impact on jobs everywhere. As per the report, administrative and legal sectors will see the maximum impact with 46 per cent of administrative jobs and 44 per cent of legal jobs risking replacement by AI. Also read | Artists fight AI programs that copy their styles Physically intensive professions are at low risk, with construction facing a six per cent threat while maintenance is looking at four per cent probable substitution. It further says that almost all occupations will be affected to at least some degree. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

AI could replace 300 million jobs worldwide, says report. Is your livelihood at risk?

The topic of AI & Automation has been a centre of debate for decades now. Some believe that automation will snatch away jobs from humans. Whereas, some believe it will provide more jobs than it will take away. Watch this video to know how AI and Automation will impact jobs in the future?

How AI and Automation will impact jobs in the future

Self-driving cars have hit the roads in various cities around the world. These autonomous vehicles have been around for years now but they have not managed to go mainstream yet because there are still many safety concerns around them.

Self-driving cars safer than human drivers?

Singapore is encouraging investment in robotics and automation partly to meet a labor crunch in the country robots will serve customers in libraries and cafes and will be working on construction sites

Singapore witnesses a sharp decline in its workforce amid automation boost

Watch the field of robots as it advances and how new advancements in automation are transforming different sectors worldwide, take a look.

Emerging trends in the world of Robotics

Robots are performing more jobs than ever before, from hauling trash from recycling plants to stocking e-commerce warehouses, to packing small consumer items in cardboard boxes.

It looks like the number of robots onboard will grow in 2022.

North American companies invested more than $2 billion in almost 40,000 robots to handle record demand and a pandemic-induced labour shortage in 2021. Since their historical surge in the automotive industry, robots have expanded to a growing number of industries.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-replaces-soldiers-with-robots-in-tibet-as-soldiers-fleeing-in-harsh-winters-441159">China replaces 'soldiers with robots' in Tibet as soldiers ‘fleeing’ in harsh winters</a>

During the pandemic, DCL Logistics in Fremont, California, started installing robots on e-commerce fulfilment lines for pandemic relief. "With human labor, what they produce depends on how hungry or how tired they are," said Brian Tu, Their chief revenue officer.

The robots are fast and do not take breaks, he claimed.

According to the industry group Association for Advancing Automation, known as A3, factories and other industrial users ordered 39,708 robots in 2021, a 28 per cent&nbsp;increase over 2020. The previous annual record for robot orders was set in 2017 - when North American companies ordered 34,904 robots valued at $1.9 billion.

In 2016, automakers purchased twice as many robots as all other industries combined. Meanwhile, other businesses began to eclipse carmakers as buyers of advanced machines in 2020, and this trend continued into 2021.

A3 reports that the metals and food and consumer goods industries have seen the fastest growth in robot orders.

Another fast-growing sector is e-commerce.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/never-seen-before-scientists-say-living-robots-they-created-can-reproduce-on-their-own-432943">Never seen before: Scientists say 'living robots' they created can reproduce on their own</a>

The A3 data primarily reflects orders for traditional industrial robots - large systems typically replacing entire assembly lines with moving arms. But a growing number of robots are now cobots, which are designed to work alongside humans on assembly lines.

"The number one driver for automation is the labor shortage in manufacturing," said Joe Campbell, a senior manager for applications development at Universal Robots, a unit of Massachusetts-based Teradyne Inc, which specializes in cobots.&nbsp;

The pandemic is not the only factor driving the change. It is estimated that 2,000 Baby Boomers are retiring from manufacturing every day, which depletes the expertise of factory floors.

Campbell said cobots are gaining traction in many industries that have long been resistant to automation. For example, the company sold robot arms to a company that uses them to install drywall in large building projects: a notoriously labour-intensive process.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: US companies hire robots to fill jobs amid labour shortage

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-companies-hire-robots-to-fill-jobs-amid-labour-shortage-429623/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The use of cobots in auto plants is also expanding. Using Universal's cobots, Stellantis N.V., the Dutch automaker, is now building the new Fiat 500 electric vehicle in the final assembly area of its factory in Turin, Italy.&nbsp;

Employers in the United States had 10.9 million open positions as of December, a modest drop from the record 11.1 million from earlier in 2021. According to St. Louis Fed President James Bullard, the unemployment rate in the United States may fall below 3% this year for the first time since the 1950s with 1.7 open jobs for every unemployed worker.

"Never say never," said Universal Robots' Campbell, "but I don't see anything to slow us down."

(With inputs from agencies)

Robots are performing more jobs than ever before, from hauling trash from recycling plants to stocking e-commerce warehouses, to packing small consumer items in cardboard boxes.

Robots are performing more jobs than ever before, from hauling trash from recycling plants to stocking e-commerce warehouses, to packing small consumer items in cardboard boxes. It looks like the number of robots onboard will grow in 2022. North American companies invested more than $2 billion in almost 40,000 robots to handle record demand and a pandemic-induced labour shortage in 2021. Since their historical surge in the automotive industry, robots have expanded to a growing number of industries. Also read | China replaces 'soldiers with robots' in Tibet as soldiers ‘fleeing’ in harsh winters During the pandemic, DCL Logistics in Fremont, California, started installing robots on e-commerce fulfilment lines for pandemic relief. "With human labor, what they produce depends on how hungry or how tired they are," said Brian Tu, Their chief revenue officer. The robots are fast and do not take breaks, he claimed. According to the industry group Association for Advancing Automation, known as A3, factories and other industrial users ordered 39,708 robots in 2021, a 28 per cent increase over 2020. The previous annual record for robot orders was set in 2017 - when North American companies ordered 34,904 robots valued at $1.9 billion. In 2016, automakers purchased twice as many robots as all other industries combined. Meanwhile, other businesses began to eclipse carmakers as buyers of advanced machines in 2020, and this trend continued into 2021. A3 reports that the metals and food and consumer goods industries have seen the fastest growth in robot orders. Another fast-growing sector is e-commerce. Also read | Never seen before: Scientists say 'living robots' they created can reproduce on their own The A3 data primarily reflects orders for traditional industrial robots - large systems typically replacing entire assembly lines with moving arms. But a growing number of robots are now cobots, which are designed to work alongside humans on assembly lines. "The number one driver for automation is the labor shortage in manufacturing," said Joe Campbell, a senior manager for applications development at Universal Robots, a unit of Massachusetts-based Teradyne Inc, which specializes in cobots. The pandemic is not the only factor driving the change. It is estimated that 2,000 Baby Boomers are retiring from manufacturing every day, which depletes the expertise of factory floors. Campbell said cobots are gaining traction in many industries that have long been resistant to automation. For example, the company sold robot arms to a company that uses them to install drywall in large building projects: a notoriously labour-intensive process. Watch | Gravitas: US companies hire robots to fill jobs amid labour shortage The use of cobots in auto plants is also expanding. Using Universal's cobots, Stellantis N.V., the Dutch automaker, is now building the new Fiat 500 electric vehicle in the final assembly area of its factory in Turin, Italy. Employers in the United States had 10.9 million open positions as of December, a modest drop from the record 11.1 million from earlier in 2021. According to St. Louis Fed President James Bullard, the unemployment rate in the United States may fall below 3% this year for the first time since the 1950s with 1.7 open jobs for every unemployed worker. "Never say never," said Universal Robots' Campbell, "but I don't see anything to slow us down." (With inputs from agencies)

More and more companies opting for robots. Are Robots taking over the workforce?

With automation taking place at a much faster pace across industries especially in the tech space, domestic software firms that employ over 16 million are set to slash headcounts by a massive 3 million by 2022, which will help them save a whopping USD 100 billion mostly in salaries annually, says a report.

The domestic IT sector employs around 16 million, of which around 9 million are employed in low-skilled services and BPO roles, according to Nasscom. Of these 9 million low-skilled services and BPO roles, 30 per cent or around 3 million will be lost by 2022, principally driven by the impact of robot process automation or RPA.

Roughly 0.7 million roles are expected to be replaced by RPA alone and the rest due to other technological upgrades and upskilling by the domestic IT players, while the RPA will have the worst impact in the US with a loss of almost 1 million jobs, according to a Bank of America report on Wednesday.

Based on average fully-loaded employee costs of USD 25,000 per annum for India-based resources and USD 50,000 for US resources, this will release around USD 100 billion in annual salaries and associated expenses for corporates, the report says. "TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Tech Mahindra and Cognizant and others appear to be planning for a 3 million reduction in low-skilled roles by 2022 because of RPA up-skilling.

"This is a USD 100-billion in reduced salary and other costs, but on the flip side, it offers a likely a USD 10 billion boons for IT companies that successfully implement RPA, and another a USD5 billion opportunity from a vibrant new software niche by 2022.

Given that robots can function for 24 hours a day, this represents a significant saving of up to 10:1 versus the human labour," says the report.

Robot process automation (RPA) is the application of software, not physical robots, to perform routine, high-volume tasks, allowing employees to focus on more differentiated work. It differs from ordinary software applications as it mimics how the employee has worked instead of building a workflow into technology from the ground up and thus minimising time to market and greatly reducing cost over the more traditional software-led approaches.

Offshoring helped the domestic IT sector to grow from around 1 per cent of GDP in 1998 to 7 per cent today, a highly strategic sector for its economy and has also significantly outgrown their Western peers (mainly Accenture, Capgemini and Atos) with annual revenue growth of 18 per cent between 2005 and 2019.

Another key reason for the RPA-driven job losses is that many countries that had offshored their work in the past are likely to bring the jobs back to their home markets. Developed countries will also look to increasingly bringing back offshored IT jobs and either use native IT workers or domestic software robots like RPA to secure their digital supply chain and ensure future resiliency of their national technology infrastructure, reasons the report.

Software offshoring began in the 1970s and the 1980s when the personal computer began to gain traction when major world players began shifting focus to trade liberalisation. However, despite such massive automation, major economies like Germany (26 per cent shortage), China (7 per cent), India (5 per cent) Korea, Brazil, Thailand Malaysia and Russia will likely face labour shortages, warns the report, adding on contrary South Africa, Greece, Indonesia and the Philippines will have surplus labour for the next 15 years.

According to the report, faster automation is driven by the shrinking talent pool of high-skilled jobs in developing economies, the need for which will only jump, but the global high-skill talent pool is shrinking and exposing outmoded immigration systems.

The report goes onto warn that emerging economies mostly India and China face the most risk of technology-driven disruptions which can impact up to 85 per cent of jobs in countries like Kenya and Bangladesh. India and China are at the greatest risk of skills disruption, while ASEAN, the Persian Gulf and Japan are at the least risk.

Perhaps the most worrying trend is that emerging market jobs are most at risk of automation because of the low-/mid-skilled nature of sectors like manufacturing, highlighting the risk of premature de-industrialization. India saw its manufacturing peak in 2002, while it occurred in Germany in 1970, in Mexico in 1990.

With automation taking place at a much faster pace across industries especially in the tech space, domestic software firms that employ over 16 million are set to slash headcounts by a massive 3 million by 2022, which will help them save a whopping USD 100 billion mostly in salaries annually, says a report.

With automation taking place at a much faster pace across industries especially in the tech space, domestic software firms that employ over 16 million are set to slash headcounts by a massive 3 million by 2022, which will help them save a whopping USD 100 billion mostly in salaries annually, says a report. The domestic IT sector employs around 16 million, of which around 9 million are employed in low-skilled services and BPO roles, according to Nasscom. Of these 9 million low-skilled services and BPO roles, 30 per cent or around 3 million will be lost by 2022, principally driven by the impact of robot process automation or RPA. Roughly 0.7 million roles are expected to be replaced by RPA alone and the rest due to other technological upgrades and upskilling by the domestic IT players, while the RPA will have the worst impact in the US with a loss of almost 1 million jobs, according to a Bank of America report on Wednesday. Based on average fully-loaded employee costs of USD 25,000 per annum for India-based resources and USD 50,000 for US resources, this will release around USD 100 billion in annual salaries and associated expenses for corporates, the report says. "TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Tech Mahindra and Cognizant and others appear to be planning for a 3 million reduction in low-skilled roles by 2022 because of RPA up-skilling. "This is a USD 100-billion in reduced salary and other costs, but on the flip side, it offers a likely a USD 10 billion boons for IT companies that successfully implement RPA, and another a USD5 billion opportunity from a vibrant new software niche by 2022. Given that robots can function for 24 hours a day, this represents a significant saving of up to 10:1 versus the human labour," says the report. Robot process automation (RPA) is the application of software, not physical robots, to perform routine, high-volume tasks, allowing employees to focus on more differentiated work. It differs from ordinary software applications as it mimics how the employee has worked instead of building a workflow into technology from the ground up and thus minimising time to market and greatly reducing cost over the more traditional software-led approaches. Offshoring helped the domestic IT sector to grow from around 1 per cent of GDP in 1998 to 7 per cent today, a highly strategic sector for its economy and has also significantly outgrown their Western peers (mainly Accenture, Capgemini and Atos) with annual revenue growth of 18 per cent between 2005 and 2019. Another key reason for the RPA-driven job losses is that many countries that had offshored their work in the past are likely to bring the jobs back to their home markets. Developed countries will also look to increasingly bringing back offshored IT jobs and either use native IT workers or domestic software robots like RPA to secure their digital supply chain and ensure future resiliency of their national technology infrastructure, reasons the report. Software offshoring began in the 1970s and the 1980s when the personal computer began to gain traction when major world players began shifting focus to trade liberalisation. However, despite such massive automation, major economies like Germany (26 per cent shortage), China (7 per cent), India (5 per cent) Korea, Brazil, Thailand Malaysia and Russia will likely face labour shortages, warns the report, adding on contrary South Africa, Greece, Indonesia and the Philippines will have surplus labour for the next 15 years. According to the report, faster automation is driven by the shrinking talent pool of high-skilled jobs in developing economies, the need for which will only jump, but the global high-skill talent pool is shrinking and exposing outmoded immigration systems. The report goes onto warn that emerging economies mostly India and China face the most risk of technology-driven disruptions which can impact up to 85 per cent of jobs in countries like Kenya and Bangladesh. India and China are at the greatest risk of skills disruption, while ASEAN, the Persian Gulf and Japan are at the least risk. Perhaps the most worrying trend is that emerging market jobs are most at risk of automation because of the low-/mid-skilled nature of sectors like manufacturing, highlighting the risk of premature de-industrialization. India saw its manufacturing peak in 2002, while it occurred in Germany in 1970, in Mexico in 1990.

Automation: Indian IT companies to slash 3 million jobs; 30% of low-skill force by 2022

Office workers are ready to welcome automation of repetitive digital tasks, as on average employees spend more than three hours a day on mundane computer tasks which are not part of their primary job and are ripe for human error, a survey said on Tuesday.

According to a global study commissioned by Automation Anywhere, in India, out of 1,000 participants surveyed, 88 per cent believe humans should not be carrying out repetitive administrative tasks if they can be automated.

The research by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-%26-economy/nearly-10000-citibank-employees-to-lose-jobs-as-bank-plans-to-introduce-robots-144218">robotic process automation</a> player noted that nearly half of workers surveyed found digital administration boring and a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/indias-it-industry-body-nasscom-dismisses-mass-layoff-reports-15782">poor use of their skills</a>, while the majority of respondents said it gets in the way of doing their main job and reduces their overall productivity. 
With an 8-hour workday being the global norm, according to the survey, the average employee loses 60 hours per month to easily automate tasks.

By deploying a digital workforce and automating these repetitive tasks, employees could be given back a quarter of their annual work time (4.5 months) to focus on more meaningful work, boosting productivity and overall business value.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/indian-women-more-tech-savvy-than-western-counterparts-246039">Indian women more tech-savvy than western counterparts</a>

At the very top of the "hated task" heap is general data entry? manually inputting data into a computer or other devices, followed closely by managing e-mail traffic and filing digital documents, such as documents, spreadsheets, images or PDFs - into the correct digital folder.

Compiling reports from IT and software systems and invoice management round out the top five most hated tasks, the survey noted. 
"Close to 80 per cent of the participants in India believe that admin work is an obstacle for them to do their main job," said Milan Sheth, Executive Vice President India, Middle East &amp; Africa, Automation Anywhere.

Sheth further said, "workers can focus on higher-value tasks if the mundane repetitive tasks can be automated".

As per the report, more than 95 per cent of participants in India are open to the idea of working alongside digital co-workers/software bots. 
Besides, 55 per cent of respondents said they would consider leaving a job if this manual administrative load became too high, while 85 per cent would be attracted to work at a company that invested in automation to reduce repetitive digital administration tasks.

Automation Anywhere commissioned independent research group OnePoll to conduct 10,500 interviews with office workers in 11 countries around the world in 2019. Respondents represented a variety of demographic groups, job levels, industry sectors, and company sizes.&nbsp; 
Human activity reducing numbers of predatory animals: Study 
London, Jan 21 (PTI) Predatory animals, especially small invertebrates like spiders and ladybird beetles, are most likely to be lost when natural habitats are converted to agricultural land, or towns and cities, according to a global study.

Small ectotherms - cold-blooded animals such as invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians, large endotherms, including mammals and birds, and animals that eat fungi were also disproportionally affected, researchers said.

The reduction in numbers is in abundance of 25-50 per cent compared to natural habitats, according to the researchers from the University College London (UCL) in the UK.

The study, published in the journal Functional Ecology, analyzed over one million records of animal abundance at sites ranging from primary forest to intensively managed farmland, and cities.

The data represented over 25,000 species across 80 countries. Species were grouped by size, whether they were warm or cold-blooded and by what they eat. Species ranged from the oribatid mite weighing only 2x10-6 grammes to an African elephant weighing 3,825 kilogrammes.&nbsp;

"Normally when we think of predators, we think of big animals like lions or tigers," said lead author of the research, Tim Newbold from UCL. "These large predators did not decline as much as we expected with habitat loss, which we think maybe because they have already declined because of human actions in the past (such as hunting)," Newbold said.

The researchers found that small predators - such as spiders and ladybirds - show the biggest declines. The results indicate that the world's ecosystems are being restructured with disproportionate losses at the highest trophic levels - top of the food chain.

Knowing how different animal groups are impacted by changing land-use could help us better understand how these ecosystems function, and the consequences of biodiversity change.&nbsp;

"We know that different types of animals play important roles within the environment - for example, predators control populations of other animals," said Newbold. "If some types of animals decline a lot when we lose natural habitats, then they will no longer fulfil these important roles," he said.

The conversion of land to human use is associated with the removal of large amounts of natural plant biomass, usually, to give space for livestock and crops, the researchers noted. The limiting of the quantity and diversity of resources available at this level potentially explains the disproportionate reductions in predators seen in this study, they said.

Office workers are ready to welcome automation of repetitive digital tasks, as on average employees spend more than three hours a day on mundane computer tasks which are not part of their primary job and are ripe for human error, a survey said on Tuesday.

Office workers are ready to welcome automation of repetitive digital tasks, as on average employees spend more than three hours a day on mundane computer tasks which are not part of their primary job and are ripe for human error, a survey said on Tuesday. According to a global study commissioned by Automation Anywhere, in India, out of 1,000 participants surveyed, 88 per cent believe humans should not be carrying out repetitive administrative tasks if they can be automated. The research by the robotic process automation player noted that nearly half of workers surveyed found digital administration boring and a poor use of their skills, while the majority of respondents said it gets in the way of doing their main job and reduces their overall productivity. With an 8-hour workday being the global norm, according to the survey, the average employee loses 60 hours per month to easily automate tasks. By deploying a digital workforce and automating these repetitive tasks, employees could be given back a quarter of their annual work time (4.5 months) to focus on more meaningful work, boosting productivity and overall business value. Also Read: Indian women more tech-savvy than western counterparts At the very top of the "hated task" heap is general data entry? manually inputting data into a computer or other devices, followed closely by managing e-mail traffic and filing digital documents, such as documents, spreadsheets, images or PDFs - into the correct digital folder. Compiling reports from IT and software systems and invoice management round out the top five most hated tasks, the survey noted. "Close to 80 per cent of the participants in India believe that admin work is an obstacle for them to do their main job," said Milan Sheth, Executive Vice President India, Middle East & Africa, Automation Anywhere. Sheth further said, "workers can focus on higher-value tasks if the mundane repetitive tasks can be automated". As per the report, more than 95 per cent of participants in India are open to the idea of working alongside digital co-workers/software bots. Besides, 55 per cent of respondents said they would consider leaving a job if this manual administrative load became too high, while 85 per cent would be attracted to work at a company that invested in automation to reduce repetitive digital administration tasks. Automation Anywhere commissioned independent research group OnePoll to conduct 10,500 interviews with office workers in 11 countries around the world in 2019. Respondents represented a variety of demographic groups, job levels, industry sectors, and company sizes. Human activity reducing numbers of predatory animals: Study London, Jan 21 (PTI) Predatory animals, especially small invertebrates like spiders and ladybird beetles, are most likely to be lost when natural habitats are converted to agricultural land, or towns and cities, according to a global study. Small ectotherms - cold-blooded animals such as invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians, large endotherms, including mammals and birds, and animals that eat fungi were also disproportionally affected, researchers said. The reduction in numbers is in abundance of 25-50 per cent compared to natural habitats, according to the researchers from the University College London (UCL) in the UK. The study, published in the journal Functional Ecology, analyzed over one million records of animal abundance at sites ranging from primary forest to intensively managed farmland, and cities. The data represented over 25,000 species across 80 countries. Species were grouped by size, whether they were warm or cold-blooded and by what they eat. Species ranged from the oribatid mite weighing only 2x10-6 grammes to an African elephant weighing 3,825 kilogrammes. "Normally when we think of predators, we think of big animals like lions or tigers," said lead author of the research, Tim Newbold from UCL. "These large predators did not decline as much as we expected with habitat loss, which we think maybe because they have already declined because of human actions in the past (such as hunting)," Newbold said. The researchers found that small predators - such as spiders and ladybirds - show the biggest declines. The results indicate that the world's ecosystems are being restructured with disproportionate losses at the highest trophic levels - top of the food chain. Knowing how different animal groups are impacted by changing land-use could help us better understand how these ecosystems function, and the consequences of biodiversity change. "We know that different types of animals play important roles within the environment - for example, predators control populations of other animals," said Newbold. "If some types of animals decline a lot when we lose natural habitats, then they will no longer fulfil these important roles," he said. The conversion of land to human use is associated with the removal of large amounts of natural plant biomass, usually, to give space for livestock and crops, the researchers noted. The limiting of the quantity and diversity of resources available at this level potentially explains the disproportionate reductions in predators seen in this study, they said.

Employees spend over 3 hours a day on easily automatable tasks: Study

By Fabrizio Carmignani*

Research shows women are better positioned than men to resist the automation of work and possibly even benefit from it.

Women are overrepresented in industries that require high levels of social skills and empathy (such as nursing, teaching and care work), where it would be difficult to replace a human worker with automation. Women in advanced economies also have, on average, higher levels of education and digital literacy, giving them a comparative advantage in a labour market that is continuously transformed by technological innovation.

The fear that robots could one day wipe out most of human labour is likely unjustified, as discussed in several studies. In fact, the risk of digitalisation varies considerably across jobs, depending on what tasks and skills are involved.

For instance, jobs that involve physical work for longer or using fingers or hands are at a significantly higher risk of digitalisation than jobs that involve presenting to or training others. Similarly, jobs that require literacy and problem solving are at lower risk than jobs that require numeracy.

The economics of ‘women’s work’ and automation

Technological innovation, of which automation is a form, changes the way in which work is organised and performed across different economic sectors.

Typically, this process has resulted in a progressive shift from unskilled to skilled labour, with the former becoming more casual and disposable. At the same time, new technologies have opened up opportunities for flexible work arrangements, distance learning and training, and networking.

As a result of this transformation, certain professions that traditionally had more women (for example clerical and service occupations) grew in size, thus increasing opportunities for female employment.

While automation could also threaten jobs in other sectors with high female participation (for example assembly type manufacturing or labour-intensive agriculture), historically the effect of innovation in the work sector seems to have increased demand for female labour and participation.

Nowadays, the interaction between technological and societal changes plays a critical role. Shifts in the wage structure (for example higher demand and hence higher wages for skilled labour) combined with women attaining higher levels of education and changing marital choices, make participation in the labour force both easier and more attractive to a larger number of women. This is particularly the case in more economically developed countries.

Overall, the economic argument suggests that while some sectors where a lot of women work might be vulnerable to digitalisation, women are, in general, at lower risk than men and could in fact benefit from an increase in employment opportunities.

The evidence is in the data

Estimating the impact of automation on female labour participation is not an easy task. In particular, it is difficult to isolate this impact from other factors that determine participation. So, early research on this tends to rely on qualitative analysis of specific case studies.

More recently, advances in research methods and data availability have led to assessments which confirm the potential benefits of automation for female participation and employment.

The main caveat here is that often this research refers to the United States and/or a relatively small group of advanced (OECD) countries.

For instance, a 2016 study points to the fact that technological progress in the household sector is a key driver of the observed increase in married female labour force participation in the US. This is not just an improvement in appliances, but also the fact that many women do not need to stay home to raise their children. It also takes into account a change in the way we do things at home (for example frozen or delivered meals as opposed to cooked meals that take hours to prepare).

Along similar lines, an OECD study, also published in 2016, shows that after controlling for a variety of factors, the risk of jobs becoming automated is significantly lower for women than it is for men.

Another very recent contribution compares the risk of digitalisation of jobs across eight advanced economies (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Japan, and Korea). Two main conclusions emerge from the data.

First, women are at no higher risk than men and often they are at lower risk. The only exception is Japan, where the risk of digitalisation for men is significantly lower.

Second, low-skilled occupations are generally most at risk. However, within these occupations, women face a significantly lower risk than men (again with the only exception of Japan, where the risk in low-skilled occupations is practically the same for men and women).

This is because, in advanced economies, women tend to be employed in occupations that require high levels of social competence and empathy (for example nursing professions) and are therefore more resistant to automation than other lower-skills occupations such as machine operators or assembly line workers.

Far from destroying all jobs, automation seems to be changing occupations in a way that benefits women more than men. This does not mean that automation alone will eliminate any form of gender gap in the labour market. However, it does mean that women have less to fear than men, and probably more to benefit, from the advent of robots.

*(Fabrizio Carmignani is a professor at Griffith Business School, Griffith University in Australia)

(This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com/global">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/women-are-less-likely-to-be-replaced-by-robots-and-might-even-benefit-from-automation-96728">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Nowadays, the interaction between technological and societal changes plays a critical role.

By Fabrizio Carmignani* Research shows women are better positioned than men to resist the automation of work and possibly even benefit from it. Women are overrepresented in industries that require high levels of social skills and empathy (such as nursing, teaching and care work), where it would be difficult to replace a human worker with automation. Women in advanced economies also have, on average, higher levels of education and digital literacy, giving them a comparative advantage in a labour market that is continuously transformed by technological innovation. The fear that robots could one day wipe out most of human labour is likely unjustified, as discussed in several studies. In fact, the risk of digitalisation varies considerably across jobs, depending on what tasks and skills are involved. For instance, jobs that involve physical work for longer or using fingers or hands are at a significantly higher risk of digitalisation than jobs that involve presenting to or training others. Similarly, jobs that require literacy and problem solving are at lower risk than jobs that require numeracy. The economics of ‘women’s work’ and automation Technological innovation, of which automation is a form, changes the way in which work is organised and performed across different economic sectors. Typically, this process has resulted in a progressive shift from unskilled to skilled labour, with the former becoming more casual and disposable. At the same time, new technologies have opened up opportunities for flexible work arrangements, distance learning and training, and networking. As a result of this transformation, certain professions that traditionally had more women (for example clerical and service occupations) grew in size, thus increasing opportunities for female employment. While automation could also threaten jobs in other sectors with high female participation (for example assembly type manufacturing or labour-intensive agriculture), historically the effect of innovation in the work sector seems to have increased demand for female labour and participation. Nowadays, the interaction between technological and societal changes plays a critical role. Shifts in the wage structure (for example higher demand and hence higher wages for skilled labour) combined with women attaining higher levels of education and changing marital choices, make participation in the labour force both easier and more attractive to a larger number of women. This is particularly the case in more economically developed countries. Overall, the economic argument suggests that while some sectors where a lot of women work might be vulnerable to digitalisation, women are, in general, at lower risk than men and could in fact benefit from an increase in employment opportunities. The evidence is in the data Estimating the impact of automation on female labour participation is not an easy task. In particular, it is difficult to isolate this impact from other factors that determine participation. So, early research on this tends to rely on qualitative analysis of specific case studies. More recently, advances in research methods and data availability have led to assessments which confirm the potential benefits of automation for female participation and employment. The main caveat here is that often this research refers to the United States and/or a relatively small group of advanced (OECD) countries. For instance, a 2016 study points to the fact that technological progress in the household sector is a key driver of the observed increase in married female labour force participation in the US. This is not just an improvement in appliances, but also the fact that many women do not need to stay home to raise their children. It also takes into account a change in the way we do things at home (for example frozen or delivered meals as opposed to cooked meals that take hours to prepare). Along similar lines, an OECD study, also published in 2016, shows that after controlling for a variety of factors, the risk of jobs becoming automated is significantly lower for women than it is for men. Another very recent contribution compares the risk of digitalisation of jobs across eight advanced economies (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Japan, and Korea). Two main conclusions emerge from the data. First, women are at no higher risk than men and often they are at lower risk. The only exception is Japan, where the risk of digitalisation for men is significantly lower. Second, low-skilled occupations are generally most at risk. However, within these occupations, women face a significantly lower risk than men (again with the only exception of Japan, where the risk in low-skilled occupations is practically the same for men and women). This is because, in advanced economies, women tend to be employed in occupations that require high levels of social competence and empathy (for example nursing professions) and are therefore more resistant to automation than other lower-skills occupations such as machine operators or assembly line workers. Far from destroying all jobs, automation seems to be changing occupations in a way that benefits women more than men. This does not mean that automation alone will eliminate any form of gender gap in the labour market. However, it does mean that women have less to fear than men, and probably more to benefit, from the advent of robots. *(Fabrizio Carmignani is a professor at Griffith Business School, Griffith University in Australia) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why women are less likely to be replaced by robots

Indian software trade body Nasscom dismissed widespread media reports of mass layoffs in the country&#39;s hugely important information technology industry but warned that the sector must reinvent itself.

IT outsourcing has long been one of India&#39;s flagship industries but recent news reports have claimed that major companies, including Tech Mahindra and Wipro, are making thousands redundant due to increased automation.

&quot;The numbers being reported across different sources are incorrect and are not in line with the actual employment progression,&quot; the National Association of Software and Services Companies said in a press release on Thursday.

&quot;The industry continues to be a net hirer with talent acquisition continuing across sectors and remains one of the largest employers of the nation,&quot; it added in the statement following a conference in New Delhi.

Several Indian newspapers, including respected business dailies like The Economic Times and Mint, have reported major IT firms are in the process of gradually laying off thousands of staff, although the companies themselves are yet to comment on numbers.

Nasscom claimed that 1,70,000 new jobs had been created in the recently ended financial year and predicted that up to three million new positions would be added by 2025, but conceded that there was a slowdown in the rate of hiring.

It also called for employees to learn new skills to help companies&#39; keep up with demands for newer and more innovative technologies.

&quot;Going forward the focus for companies will be on skills and proficiency levels rather than scale, hence it is becoming imperative for employees (both current and potential) to skill themselves in domain specific requirements,&quot; it said.

Nasscom says that the IT outsourcing industry employs nearly four million Indians and saw revenues of around $154 billion.

India has been popularly termed as the &quot;back office&quot; to the world as companies, largely in developed nations, subcontracted work to Indian firms, taking advantage of the country&#39;s skilled English-speaking workforce.&nbsp;

But there are concerns it is losing its sheen as companies move towards automation and seek newer technologies while there are also fears over US President Donald Trump&#39;s curbs on H-1B visas, which allow aspiring Indian engineers to work in America.

(PTI)

Nasscom claimed that 1,70,000 new jobs had been created in the recently ended financial year and predicted that up to three million new positions would be added by 2025

Indian software trade body Nasscom dismissed widespread media reports of mass layoffs in the country's hugely important information technology industry but warned that the sector must reinvent itself. IT outsourcing has long been one of India's flagship industries but recent news reports have claimed that major companies, including Tech Mahindra and Wipro, are making thousands redundant due to increased automation. "The numbers being reported across different sources are incorrect and are not in line with the actual employment progression," the National Association of Software and Services Companies said in a press release on Thursday. "The industry continues to be a net hirer with talent acquisition continuing across sectors and remains one of the largest employers of the nation," it added in the statement following a conference in New Delhi. Several Indian newspapers, including respected business dailies like The Economic Times and Mint, have reported major IT firms are in the process of gradually laying off thousands of staff, although the companies themselves are yet to comment on numbers. Nasscom claimed that 1,70,000 new jobs had been created in the recently ended financial year and predicted that up to three million new positions would be added by 2025, but conceded that there was a slowdown in the rate of hiring. It also called for employees to learn new skills to help companies' keep up with demands for newer and more innovative technologies. "Going forward the focus for companies will be on skills and proficiency levels rather than scale, hence it is becoming imperative for employees (both current and potential) to skill themselves in domain specific requirements," it said. Nasscom says that the IT outsourcing industry employs nearly four million Indians and saw revenues of around $154 billion. India has been popularly termed as the "back office" to the world as companies, largely in developed nations, subcontracted work to Indian firms, taking advantage of the country's skilled English-speaking workforce. But there are concerns it is losing its sheen as companies move towards automation and seek newer technologies while there are also fears over US President Donald Trump's curbs on H-1B visas, which allow aspiring Indian engineers to work in America. (PTI)

India's IT industry body Nasscom dismisses mass layoff reports

More than half of workers in five Southeast Asian countries are at high risk of losing their jobs to automation in the next two decades, an International Labour Organization study found, with those in the garments industry particularly vulnerable. 
 
About 137 million workers, or 56 per cent of the salaried workforce from Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, fall under the high-risk category, the study showed. 
 
&quot;Countries that compete on low-wage labour need to reposition themselves. Price advantage is no longer enough,&quot; said Deborah France-Massin, director for the ILO&#39;s bureau for employers&#39; activities. The report said workers have to be trained to work effectively alongside digitalised machines. 
 
Southeast Asia is home to more than 630 million people and is a hub for several manufacturing sectors, including textiles, vehicles and hard disk drives. 
 
Of the nine million people working in the region&#39;s textiles, clothing and footwear industry, 64 per cent of Indonesian workers are at high risk of losing their jobs to automation, 86 per cent in Vietnam, and 88 per cent in Cambodia. 
 
Garment manufacturers in Cambodia, who take orders from retailers such as Adidas, Marks and Spencer and Wal-Mart Stores Inc, employ about 600,000 people. 
 
Neighbouring Vietnam is seeing record investment in its footwear and textiles industries, due to new free-trade pacts with major markets, including the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership. It is the second-largest garment supplier behind China to the United States. 
 
The United Nations agency said technologies including 3D printing, wearable technology, nanotechnology and robotic automation could disrupt the sector. 
 
&quot;Robots are becoming better at assembly, cheaper and increasingly able to collaborate with people,&quot; the ILO said. 
 
The textiles, clothing and footwear sector is at the highest risk of automation out of five industries analysed in the study, including automotive and auto parts, electrical and electronics, business process outsourcing and retail. 
 
In the automotive and auto parts industry, more than 60 per cent of salaried workers in Indonesia, and over 70 per cent of those in Thailand face the risk of their jobs being displaced. 
 
Southeast Asia&#39;s automotive sector, the seventh-largest producer of vehicles in 2015 globally, employs more than 800,000 workers, the report said. 
 
Known as the &quot;Detroit of Southeast Asia&quot;, Thailand is a regional production and export hub for the world&#39;s top carmakers. The auto sector accounts for around 10 per cent of Thai GDP and employs a 10th of its workers in manufacturing. 
 
(Reuters)

The textiles, clothing and footwear sector is at the highest risk of automation out of five industries analysed in the study

More than half of workers in five Southeast Asian countries are at high risk of losing their jobs to automation in the next two decades, an International Labour Organization study found, with those in the garments industry particularly vulnerable. About 137 million workers, or 56 per cent of the salaried workforce from Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, fall under the high-risk category, the study showed. "Countries that compete on low-wage labour need to reposition themselves. Price advantage is no longer enough," said Deborah France-Massin, director for the ILO's bureau for employers' activities. The report said workers have to be trained to work effectively alongside digitalised machines. Southeast Asia is home to more than 630 million people and is a hub for several manufacturing sectors, including textiles, vehicles and hard disk drives. Of the nine million people working in the region's textiles, clothing and footwear industry, 64 per cent of Indonesian workers are at high risk of losing their jobs to automation, 86 per cent in Vietnam, and 88 per cent in Cambodia. Garment manufacturers in Cambodia, who take orders from retailers such as Adidas, Marks and Spencer and Wal-Mart Stores Inc, employ about 600,000 people. Neighbouring Vietnam is seeing record investment in its footwear and textiles industries, due to new free-trade pacts with major markets, including the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership. It is the second-largest garment supplier behind China to the United States. The United Nations agency said technologies including 3D printing, wearable technology, nanotechnology and robotic automation could disrupt the sector. "Robots are becoming better at assembly, cheaper and increasingly able to collaborate with people," the ILO said. The textiles, clothing and footwear sector is at the highest risk of automation out of five industries analysed in the study, including automotive and auto parts, electrical and electronics, business process outsourcing and retail. In the automotive and auto parts industry, more than 60 per cent of salaried workers in Indonesia, and over 70 per cent of those in Thailand face the risk of their jobs being displaced. Southeast Asia's automotive sector, the seventh-largest producer of vehicles in 2015 globally, employs more than 800,000 workers, the report said. Known as the "Detroit of Southeast Asia", Thailand is a regional production and export hub for the world's top carmakers. The auto sector accounts for around 10 per cent of Thai GDP and employs a 10th of its workers in manufacturing. (Reuters)

Millions of Southeast Asian jobs may be lost to automation in next two decades

Lloyds Banking Group plans to axe about 640 jobs, sources close to the matter said on Wednesday, as Britain&#39;s largest mortgage lender continues to scale back its branch network and workforce. 
 
All affected employees working in information technology and back-office roles and are being told of the decision on Wednesday, the sources said on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to discuss the plans. 
 
Lloyds, who rescued in a 20.5 billion Pound ($27.4 billion) taxpayer bailout during the financial crisis, is in the midst of major restructuring as part of an aggressive cost-cutting programme. 
 
&quot;The continuation of the bank&#39;s major job loss programme will bring disappointment as staff feel they have already faced two years of endless workforce cuts,&quot; said Rob MacGregor, national officer at the Unite union. 
 
A statement from Lloyds said there will be a net reduction of 525 jobs where newly created roles are included. The bank also said it is closing 23 branches by October because customers increasingly bank online and more functions are automated. 
 
The bank, more than two thirds of the way through three-year plan to cut about a tenth of its workforce, could now consider deeper cuts than originally targetted because of the programme&#39;s swift progress, two separate sources said. 
 
The latest cuts coincide with the biggest upheaval for British banks since the financial crisis. 
 
British voters&#39; surprise decision, last week, to leave the European Union is forcing bank executives to reconsider business models amid uncertainty and earnings downgrades that prompted rattled investors to offload billions of pounds of shares. 
 
Sources close to Britain&#39;s government say it has put on hold plans to sell stakes in Lloyds because market volatility has made it too difficult to judge whether disposals represent value for taxpayers. 
 
The employees affected by Wednesday&#39;s job cuts work in cities including London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Manchester, the sources said. 
 
So far this year, Lloyds has announced plans to cut about 3,580 positions from its 75,000-strong workforce. 
 
The Unite union has said the drawn out process job losses are taking a toll on Lloyds staff, with three quarters of its employees reporting symptoms of stress and four out of every five working unpaid overtime every week. 
 
(Reuters)

Four out of every five employees at Lloyds, who received a $27 bailout in 2009, were reportedly working unpaid overtime every week

Lloyds Banking Group plans to axe about 640 jobs, sources close to the matter said on Wednesday, as Britain's largest mortgage lender continues to scale back its branch network and workforce. All affected employees working in information technology and back-office roles and are being told of the decision on Wednesday, the sources said on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to discuss the plans. Lloyds, who rescued in a 20.5 billion Pound ($27.4 billion) taxpayer bailout during the financial crisis, is in the midst of major restructuring as part of an aggressive cost-cutting programme. "The continuation of the bank's major job loss programme will bring disappointment as staff feel they have already faced two years of endless workforce cuts," said Rob MacGregor, national officer at the Unite union. A statement from Lloyds said there will be a net reduction of 525 jobs where newly created roles are included. The bank also said it is closing 23 branches by October because customers increasingly bank online and more functions are automated. The bank, more than two thirds of the way through three-year plan to cut about a tenth of its workforce, could now consider deeper cuts than originally targetted because of the programme's swift progress, two separate sources said. The latest cuts coincide with the biggest upheaval for British banks since the financial crisis. British voters' surprise decision, last week, to leave the European Union is forcing bank executives to reconsider business models amid uncertainty and earnings downgrades that prompted rattled investors to offload billions of pounds of shares. Sources close to Britain's government say it has put on hold plans to sell stakes in Lloyds because market volatility has made it too difficult to judge whether disposals represent value for taxpayers. The employees affected by Wednesday's job cuts work in cities including London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Manchester, the sources said. So far this year, Lloyds has announced plans to cut about 3,580 positions from its 75,000-strong workforce. The Unite union has said the drawn out process job losses are taking a toll on Lloyds staff, with three quarters of its employees reporting symptoms of stress and four out of every five working unpaid overtime every week. (Reuters)

Lloyds to axe 640 jobs in cost-cutting drive

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