Illinois Governor JB Pritzker discussed the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market, stating that while current layoffs directly attributed to AI remain low, major workforce disruptions across white-collar industries are inevitable.

AI Adoption is Unstoppable

Pritzker emphasized that stopping AI adoption is not an option for state or federal leadership. “AI is not going to go away, it just isn’t,” Pritzker said. “It’s either going to be owned by Chinese owners, or it’s going to be owned by U.S. owners. It’s either going to be controlled by the United States or controlled by another country… but the point is that we can’t make it go away and we can’t become Luddites.”

Pritzker pointed to professional sectors like law and accounting as areas that will see reduced hiring for entry-level positions. He noted that some businesses are using AI as a pretext for standard cost-cutting measures.

Impact on White-Collar Jobs

A law firm leader told Pritzker that the firm will not need as many associates in the future due to AI. Pritzker added that “we’re going to see a lot of jobs go away.” However, physical trades, including HVAC technicians, plumbers, and construction workers, will remain less susceptible to near-term AI disruption.

Pritzker expressed skepticism regarding universal basic income (UBI) as a solution for workers displaced by automation. Instead, he highlighted workforce development programs in Illinois designed to align labor skills with emerging industries, including quantum computing and specialized technology.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.