Sadiq Khan warns AI could trigger mass unemployment in London without urgent action

Sadiq Khan says AI could destroy London jobs if not controlled

Artificial intelligence (AI) could become "a weapon of mass destruction of jobs" if not properly controlled, Sir Sadiq Khan is set to say. During his annual speech at Mansion House later, the mayor is due to outline his concerns about the impact of AI on the London's labour market. He will say urgent action is needed to "seize the potential of AI and use it as a superpower for positive transformation and creation" and to prevent "a new era of mass unemployment". London is "at the sharpest edge of change" because of the "colossal" impact on jobs in key sectors including finance, professional services and the creative industries, he will add.

Sadiq Khan to urge ministers to act over 'colossal' impact of AI on London jobs

In Mansion House speech, mayor will talk of opportunities technology offers but highlight mass unemployment risk Sadiq Khan is to warn in a major speech that artificial intelligence (AI) could destroy swathes of jobs in London and "usher in a new era of mass unemployment" unless ministers act now. In his annual Mansion House speech, the London mayor will say the capital is "at the sharpest edge of change" because of its reliance on white-collar workers in the finance and creative industries, and professional services such as law, accounting, consulting and marketing. The mayor will argue that "we have a moral, social and economic duty to act" to ensure that new jobs are created to replace those that will disappear, with entry-level and junior jobs the first to go. In the speech on Thursday night, Khan will highlight research that suggests 70% of skills in the average job will have changed by 2030. However, he also sees huge potential benefits from AI for public services and productivity across the economy. When he addresses business leaders and bankers at Mansion House, the London mayor will say: "AI could enable us to transform our public services, turbocharge productivity and tackle some of our most complex challenges," but used recklessly, will "usher in a new era of mass unemployment". He will warn that the impact on the labour market will be "nothing short of colossal". But he will say that there is a clear choice: "seize the potential of AI and use it as a superpower for positive transformation and creation or surrender to it and sit back and watch as it becomes a weapon of mass destruction of jobs." City Hall is launching a London taskforce on AI and the future of work, with expertise from the government, businesses and the AI sector, to assess the potential impact of the new technology on London's jobs market. It will also offer free AI training for Londoners. More than half of workers in London expect AI to affect their jobs in some way in the next 12 months, according to City Hall polling. Across the UK, up to 3m low-skilled jobs in trades, machine operations and admin roles could disappear by 2035 because of automation and AI, a report by the charity National Foundation for Educational Research found in November. "We can shape this next technological revolution and, if we are bold in our efforts, ensure AI makes us richer, not poorer, stronger, not weaker, more connected and more confident, and more capable of building a fairer, safer and more prosperous London for everyone," Khan will say. He will argue the UK and others have been too slow to respond to new technology in the past and that the growth of social media has led to a youth mental health crisis, a surge in online abuse and a dangerous rise in misinformation. Separately, Susan Langley, major of the City of London, said on Thursday morning she had noticed that some finance workers were wary of coming to London from abroad because they worry about their safety. However, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The City of London is one of the safest cities in the world. There's this perception that you're going to step out of your office and be swept away in a tsunami of crime. "It's completely wrong. Competition for investment is really fierce at the moment, and I think any kind of unfounded negative sentiment that's being pushed out there really risks undermining the UK on the global stage, and we just can't let it happen."

Sadiq Khan: AI could usher in new era of mass unemployment

The mayor will announce free AI skills training for all Londoners and a taskforce to ensure AI is embedded in every industry. AI could become a "weapon of mass destruction of jobs" if urgent action is not taken, according to London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan. Speaking at the annual London government dinner at Mansion House this evening, Sir Sadiq will argue that London must actively shape the AI revolution to protect jobs, boost productivity and safeguard the capital's economy. He will call for faster regulation, skills reform and leadership to ensure AI benefits society rather than deepening inequality. "Used responsibly, AI could enable us to transform our public services, turbocharge productivity and tackle some of our most complex challenges," he is set to say as he announces a new AI taskforce and free AI training. "But used recklessly, it could usher in a new era of mass unemployment." AI impact 'will be colossal' The Labour mayor will say there is a "moral, social and economic duty to act", with a choice to make: "Seize the potential of AI and use it as a superpower for positive transformation and creation, or surrender to it and sit back and watch as it become a weapon of mass destruction of jobs." "The impact of AI on London's labour market will be nothing short of colossal," he will add. "That is likely an underestimation. "Without proactive action, old roles may disappear faster than new ones are created." The mayor will say entry-level jobs are likely to be the first to go and, unlike the Industrial Revolution, those in white collar jobs will feel it the most. That will include some of London's biggest sectors, such as finance, professional services and the creative industries. He will put London forward as a global leader in AI, saying the tech shaping the future needs to be made in the capital "with our values hardwired into the code". Read more from Sky News: Khan swipes at Trump AI being used by students to cheat On the London Taskforce on AI, he will say it will provide recommendations for what is needed to "embed AI skills at every level in our workforce and equip the next generation with the tools they'll need to thrive". Sir Sadiq will also announce free AI skills courses open to all Londoners so they can "take advantage of this new technology". But he will also warn there needs to be responsible regulation of AI, with lessons learned from the "social media revolution" that has saddled the UK "with a youth mental health crisis and a surge in online abuse". "This time, we need to move faster and not make the same mistakes again," he will say.

AI risks 'mass unemployment' in London: Mayor

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has issued a stark warning about artificial intelligence potentially causing mass unemployment in the UK capital. He will outline both the risks and benefits of AI in a speech. London mayor Sadiq Khan on Thursday joined the chorus of warnings on the impact of artificial intelligence for jobs, saying that the UK capital risks "an era of mass unemployment". The Labour mayor's comments are to be included in a London speech late Thursday outlining the opportunities and risks posed by AI. With the UK capital home to a large number of finance, professional services and creative jobs, London is "at the sharpest edge of change", Khan was to say according to excerpts of the speech sent to media. Khan will point also to "huge potential benefits" of the technology if used responsibly, as he unveils a review into its impact on the capital's jobs market alongside free AI training for millions of Londoners. He will urge swift action to harness those benefits before the technology "becomes a weapon of mass destruction of jobs". The debate continues over whether AI will destroy jobs, with answers remaining elusive. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office on Thursday said that "AI is going to reshape the world of work". A Downing Street spokesperson added: "Some jobs will be... more impacted than others, but the new roles and opportunities it will create is something that we will embrace." The United Nations recently warned that AI and automation could exacerbate global labour market challenges, particularly for educated young people in wealthier countries seeking their first high-skill jobs. Most forecasts see gradual change. Management consultancy McKinsey recently forecast that 30 percent of US jobs could be automated by 2030, with 60 percent significantly altered. Analysts from US research firm Gartner have suggested that AI will create more jobs than it eliminates by 2027.