ILO Chief: AI's benefits must be shared broadly, not just by the elite

Artificial intelligence presents both challenges and opportunities for the global workforce, making its integration into the world of work an urgent priority for the International Labour Organization (ILO). Gilbert F. Houngbo, the ILO's Director-General, is set to present a key report titled “A Moment of Choice: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Decent Work” at the International Labour Conference.

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We really need to see how it benefits societies globally, [and] if it is again there just to go and benefit the 1 percent of society.

Houngbo, who recently visited South Korea for meetings including one with President Lee Jae Myung, stressed that AI's benefits must be shared widely across society. "We really need to see how it benefits societies globally, [and] if it is again there just to go and benefit the 1 percent of society," he stated. The ILO's goal is not to halt technological progress but to ensure that the transition is equitable.

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For developing countries, the challenge is not only exposure to automation, but also the risk of being excluded from AI’s benefits because of gaps in digital infrastructure, skills and institutional capacity.

A joint ILO-World Bank report highlights that advanced economies face significant exposure to AI in professional and clerical roles. However, developing countries, while having lower overall exposure, often lack the necessary digital infrastructure and skills to capitalize on AI's advantages. This disparity risks creating an unfair playing field, with women, who are overrepresented in clerical occupations, being approximately 2.5 times more likely than men to be impacted by automation.

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Because women are overrepresented in clerical occupations globally, they are approximately 2.5 times more likely than men to be affected by potential automation.