AI Threatens Youth's 'Ladder of Experience,' Experts Warn

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the workplace and educational landscape for young people, with experts warning of a critical threat: the erosion of experiential learning pathways. This disruption, they argue, is more damaging than job displacement, as it hinders the development of judgment and expertise gained through practical work.

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When working with AI assistance, tasks may seem efficient in the short term, but a gradual 'skill decay' occurs, where the ability to make independent judgments and solve problems diminishes.

"When working with AI assistance, tasks may seem efficient in the short term, but a gradual 'skill decay' occurs, where the ability to make independent judgments and solve problems diminishes," explained Connie Bayudan-Dacuycuy, a researcher at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). She cautioned that this could lead to a severe structural crisis in five to ten years, with a shortage of managers capable of making complex decisions.

A report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights that 29.5% of young people aged 15-24 with higher education are exposed to AI-driven automation. While some roles may see a complementary relationship between humans and AI, others face higher risks. To mitigate this, Bayudan-Dacuycuy advocates for youth to act as "gatekeepers" verifying AI results and for portable skills certification to compensate for the lack of field experience.

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This could lead to a severe structural crisis in five to ten years, with a shortage of managers capable of making complex decisions.

The problem begins even before entering the workforce, with AI impacting academic learning. Han Sung-chia, head of the AI initiative at the Global Development Center (CGD), cited research showing that while students using AI for homework saw grade increases, their monthly exam and college entrance scores declined. He urged for regulatory review of AI chatbots for youth, emphasizing that they bypass essential learning experiences.

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AI bypassing the essential learning experiences that students need to develop their thinking.

Miguel Sanchez-Martinez, an ILO economist, stressed the need for a global redesign of educational systems to equip youth with digital literacy and critical thinking skills that AI cannot replicate. He also proposed differentiated strategies based on national income levels, urging high-income countries to protect entry-level opportunities and provide retraining, middle-income countries to align graduates' skills with the AI era, and low-income countries to focus on creating quality jobs and foundational digital skills rather than advanced technology.

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To fully benefit from AI, digital literacy and critical thinking are necessary.