AI and Work: Will It Create or Destroy Jobs?

The debate on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on work is now one of the hottest topics on the global technological and economic agenda. From generative algorithms to advanced robotics, AI permeates every productive sector, raising legitimate fears but also great expectations. In this article we explore how the relationship between artificial intelligence and employment is evolving, seeking to distinguish facts from excessively alarmist or overly optimistic narratives.

The context: which sectors are most exposed?

The jobs most at risk of automation are those characterized by repetitive, structured tasks based on clear rules. Sectors such as industrial production, data processing, first-level customer service and machine translation represent some of the areas where AI is already demonstrating superhuman capabilities in terms of speed and efficiency. According to a Goldman Sachs study published in 2023, up to 30% of working hours in G7 countries could be automated by generative AI.

However, not all sectors are equally vulnerable. Professions that require creativity, complex critical thinking, empathy and social negotiation — such as teaching, psychotherapy, strategic management and many forms of art — remain substantially beyond the reach of current AI systems. This heterogeneity is key to understanding why the prediction of mass unemployment is likely exaggerated.

Net job creation

Economic history teaches us that every technological revolution has destroyed some jobs but created others, often in greater numbers. The internet killed the telegraph and the paper phonebook, but it generated entire ecosystems of new professions: web developers, SEO experts, content creators and social media specialists. AI is following a similar dynamic, although transition times may be more compressed.

Concrete examples of new professions born thanks to AI include prompt engineer, AI ethics officer, bias detection specialist, collaborative robotics technician and AI-driven digital transformation consultant. The World Economic Forum estimates that, despite the loss of 85 million jobs between 2023 and 2027, AI will create around 97 million, for a net positive balance.

• Prompt Engineer: designs and optimizes interactions with language models to maximize the quality of results.
• AI Ethicist: ensures that artificial intelligence systems adhere to ethical, regulatory and social principles.
• Data Curator: selects and organizes the datasets needed to train reliable and representative AI models.
• Human-AI Interaction Designer: designs interfaces that allow humans to collaborate effectively with AI systems.

The challenge of transition and reskilling

The real problem is not so much the destruction itself, but the ability of the workforce to adapt to new paradigms. Workers who will be most affected are those with specific and obsolete skills, often in middle-skill positions. Without targeted continuous training interventions, they risk being trapped in a professional limbo from which it is difficult to escape.

Governments, companies and educational institutions are beginning to respond with upskilling and reskilling programs, but efforts remain fragmented and insufficient relative to the scale of change. Norway and Singapore are considered reference models for their national digital training programs, while in Italy the «Repubblica Digitale» plan seeks to close the gap with significant investments, albeit still in its early stages.

Prospects and practical recommendations

For professionals looking to prepare for the future of AI-driven work, some practical advice can make the difference. First and foremost, develop familiarity with AI tools in your own sector: anyone able to integrate AI into their workflow will gain a huge competitive advantage. Secondly, cultivate 'human' skills — critical thinking, leadership, communication — that AI cannot easily replicate.

The future of work is not a binary choice between creation and destruction: it is a complex transformation that requires vision, preparation and forward-looking public policies. AI will probably not replace humans, but humans who use AI will probably replace those who don't. The challenge is to invest today in the skills of tomorrow.