COMSATS University Islamabad (Abbottabad Campus)

Artificial Intelligence

Prepared For:

Prepared By:

Date of Submission:
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES.....................................................................................................................................2
LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................................3
Abstract.......................................................................................................................................................4
Introduction to the study..............................................................................................................................6
Introduction: The Fundamentals..............................................................................................................6
Background.............................................................................................................................................7
Statement of the problem.........................................................................................................................9
Significance.............................................................................................................................................9
Review of Related literature..................................................................................................................10
Methods of Study..................................................................................................................................12
Sources of Data – (questionnaire and previous reports analysis).......................................................12
Sample selection - (survey)................................................................................................................12
Statistical Comparison.......................................................................................................................13
Scope of the study.................................................................................................................................13
Limitations............................................................................................................................................14
Findings, Conclusion and Recommendations............................................................................................15
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................15
Findings.................................................................................................................................................15
Result of Survey................................................................................................................................15
Demographic Profile..........................................................................................................................16
Area of Job Performances Affected by Artificial Intelligence:..........................................................17
Discussion.................................................................................................................................................18
Conclusions...............................................................................................................................................20
Recommendations.....................................................................................................................................21
Bibliography..............................................................................................................................................22
Appendix...................................................................................................................................................23
Questionnaire:.......................................................................................................................................23
Survey:..................................................................................................................................................24

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figures Page No.

Figure
1: Percentages of Survey Results.....................................................................................................1

Figure 2: Age Distribution of Respondents.....................................................................................1

Figure 3: Effect of AI on Job Performances....................................................................................1

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 LIST OF TABLES
Table Page No.

Table 1: Effect of AI on Jobs.........................................................................................................17

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 Abstract

The aim of this report is to analyse and evaluate the effect of AI on employment rate. AI is the

growing field and the world is concerned about its impact on employment. The biggest fear is

that AI will steal our jobs by replacing human workforce. The methods used for analysis in this

report includes surveying different persons by distributing questionnaires each containing 12

questions to know about their concern about AI, analysing previous reports and then we used

statistical technique for comparison of result of data.

The questionnaire is shown in appendices and the result of the survey is explained in the form of

charts and graphs in the finding section of report. On the basis of our survey result most of the

respondents were of the view that AI has negative impact on employment rate. And two areas i.e.

Industry and Media Communication are mostly affected. But there is a conflict between job

creation and job destruction related to AI. Some economics believe that AI will provide more job

opportunities while others believe that it will cause disruption. So the need of the day is to be

aware of AI related opportunities and threat.

The report also includes some recommendation, as recommendations are important part of any

report. The recommendations presented are

 We should transform our culture to make it rapidly adaptable to AI related privileges and

hazards.

 People should have necessary knowledge and skills to thrive in the Automated

Intelligence world.

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 The organizations should focus on enhancing the jobs rather than diminish them.

The report also considered the fact that it has certain limitations. Some limitations

include: the simple statistical techniques are not reliable as this give subjectivity. And the

sample chosen is not representing the whole populations. As this report is only for study

basis so its result are not authentic.

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 Artificial Intelligence – Robots will steal your Job

Section I

Introduction to the study

Introduction: The Fundamentals

Emerging (IT) information technology has created evolutions in the life of human beings.

Artificial Intelligence is SMARTER, BETTER, FASTER and STRONGER. It strongly

influences the world of 21st century. Algorithms and computer applications simplify the every-

day tasks. There are many people who express their concerns and fears about the impact of

artificial intelligence on our future, and with good reason.

A recent report from Forrester predicts that by 2021, intelligent agents and related robots will

have eliminated a net 6% of jobs. That’s a huge number: approximately 9 million jobs in the

United States. The robots haven’t just landed in our workplace—they’re expanding skills,

moving up the corporate ladder, showing extremely impressive productivity and retention rates,

and increasingly shoving aside their human counterparts.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

This term was first coined in 1956 by John McCarthy at the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology. Artificial intelligence is the branch of computer science concerned with making

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computers behave like humans. The term ‘artificial intelligence’ thus means ‘investigating

intelligent problem-solving behaviour and creating intelligent computer systems’.

Machines are replacing humans for more efficient and fast work. In turn it has made us slaves.

Unemployment is majorly increasing due to Artificial intelligence because the work which was

previously done by five to ten humans is now being done by only one machine!

People themselves prefer Artificial intelligence over human force because machines powered by

artificial intelligence are more efficient and speedy as compared to a human. They have less than

1% inaccuracy rate whereas humans have more than 50% inaccuracy rate.

From the past we can see that human lives are crucially affected by machines and they have deep

impact on it. People need to see the negative impact of artificial intelligence on the future of

jobs. They should identify the loop-holes and only focus on how Artificial intelligence can be

advantageous and initiate programs for the solution of effects of artificial intelligence especially

the ones replacing human labour.

Background

A lot of development is taking place in the field of artificial intelligence. The production of

robots is continuously increasing and the main focus is to produce more efficient and less

expensive robots. Automation rate is continuously increasing and machines are doing better than

humans in almost every field. So, most of the industries are looking forward for automated

processes by using artificial intelligence. Some recent surveys suggest that if the growth of

automation will continue at this rate then robots will replace human workers in near future

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because of their more working capacity and lower cost. Although the persons having the

knowledge of robotics or artificial intelligence will have more job opportunities at that time but

millions of other peoples around the world will lose their job because of this automation.

Data from the Robotics Industries Association (RIA), one of the largest robotic automation

advocacy organizations in North America, reveals just how prevalent robots are likely to be in

the workplace of tomorrow. During the first half of 2016 alone, North American robotics

technology vendors sold 14,583 robots worth $817M to companies around the world. The

Robotics Industries Association further estimates that more than 265,000 robots are currently

deployed at factories across the country, placing the US third worldwide in terms of robotics

deployments behind only China and Japan.

In a recent report, the World Economic Forum predicted that robotic automation will result in the

net loss of more than 5M jobs across 15 developed nations by 2020, a conservative estimate.

Another study, conducted by the International Labour Organization, states that as many as 137M

workers across Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam – approximately

56% of the total workforce of these countries are at risk of displacement by robots, particularly

workers in the garment manufacturing industry.

This situation is very alarming, although the automation is beneficial but it should not be done at

the cost of unemployment of millions of people.

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 Statement of the problem

The purpose of this report is to determine the impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on

unemployment and the course to overcome this risk.

Significance

This report will help us in understanding all the aspects of artificial intelligent which can cause

massive unemployment. By this report we have come to know about the development in the field

of artificial intelligence which has a strong impact on global labour market. The machines are

doing better and consume less time but at the same time the employees are replaced by

intelligent algorithms. In the future individual jobs will disappear completely and new jobs will

come into being. But the world is only considering the positive impacts of artificial intelligence.

They are neglecting the fact that artificial intelligence is responsible for the unemployment of

many people. They prefer the machines over human labour because machines are playing their

role more efficiently than humans. Machines have less inaccuracy rate than humans but they

could leave half of the world unemployed. Robots and intelligent machines not only have

supporting role but also have lifesaving functions. The human have to do less manual or hard

work with the help of machines but despite of these benefits the problem is if the Artificial

Intelligence booms the unemployment raises. So the next generation must adapt themselves with

the pace of increasing Artificial intelligence around the world. Without their interaction they will

be left deserted and in solitude. Since, the work nature is changing so in the future only those

persons will get more job opportunities, who are in contact with recent development in machines

powered by artificial intelligence.

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 Review of Related literature

The idea of artificial intelligence is not a new one it is widely discussed topic. Manifestation of

the idea appears in Greek mythology, as far back as 850BC. In early 1980 scholars began to

proclaim that artificial intelligence will result in increase in unemployment. In 1984, an article

published in, “The AI Magazine,” authored by Nils J. Nilsson, it is stated that emergence

artificial intelligence will result in reduction of the need for humans in the work force. This gave

a unique idea when even the capabilities of artificial intelligence were still unknown, and

technology was much less advanced.

In 2013, an article published in the “Communications of the ACM” magazine entitled “Could

artificial intelligence create an unemployment crisis?” proclaims that artificial intelligence has

already affected unemployment, and according to scientific predictions this effect will only

increase in future. Martin Ford argues that most jobs required by the economy are more or less

routine, repetitive, mundane tasks.

Bipin C. Desai, of Concordia University, states in his article that robots will increase

productivity, as robots do not get tired. In another article entitled “The Future of Employment:

How susceptible are jobs to computerization?” Desai mathematically proved substitution of jobs

by computers.

Based on the factors like social intelligence, creativity, perception and manipulation, it was

figured out that over 700 job categories will be eliminated due to computerization. According to

analysis of this paper it was conclude that almost half of the 700 job categories will disappear

within the next 20 years. These jobs are the ones that have low levels of the above mentioned

factors.

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“The Financial Times” reports that Moshe Vardi, a computer science professor at Rice

University in Texas, asked the American Association for the Advancement of Science over the

weekend. The World Economic Forum also backed up Professor Verdi’s fears with a report

released last month warning that the rise of robots will lead to a net loss of over 5 million jobs in

15 major developed and emerging economies by 2020. Professor Stephen Hawking told the BBC

in December 2014 that the development of full artificial intelligence could result to the end of the

human race.

The report, released last month and titled "Technology at work: V2.0", concludes that 35% of

jobs in the UK are at risk of being replaced by automation, 47% of US jobs are at risk, and across

the OECD as a whole an average of 57% of jobs are at risk. In China, the risk of automation is as

high as 77%.

A study by Jeffery Lin suggests that while about 8.2% of the US workforce shifted into new jobs

during the 1980s which were associated with new technologies; during the 1990s this figured

declined to 4.4%. Estimates by Thor Berger and Carl Benedikt Frey also suggest that less than

0.5% of the US workforce shifted into technology industries that emerged throughout the 2000s,

including new industries such as online auctions, video and audio streaming, and web design.

Forecasts suggests that there will be 9.5 million new job openings and 98 million replacement

jobs in the EU from 2013 to 2025.

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 Methods of Study

Sources of Data – (questionnaire and previous reports analysis)

Two sources of data were selected for this cause. In the first method 20 questionnaires were

distributed consisting of 12 questions each. These questionnaires were developed by the group of

students from COMSATS Abbottabad. Respondents were asked to answer the questions from the

range of highly disagreement to strongly agreed, having three other intermediates (disagree,

neutral, agree). They were also enquired about their background, age and workplace so in the end

proper demographic data can be collected.

Second method is to analyse the previous reports. As artificial intelligence is growing field and

its possible impact on employment rate is on focus now a day’s a lot of reports have been written

on this topic by researchers. So, in order to get more information about the problem of

unemployment due to robotics we have analysed some recent reports. These reports are analysed

in all aspects including statistical data.

Sample selection - (survey)

The respondents involved in this survey were different employees from different organization

that are directly or indirectly affected by the Artificial Intelligence in their corresponding firms.

Each member of a team went to specific person and enquired them about the impacts of Artificial

intelligence on their social, personal and business life. To ensure confidentiality each person’s

answers were recorded separately and by a trusted as well as unbiased person.

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 Statistical Comparison

Simple statistical techniques are used for comparison of the results of the data. Firstly the data

was analysed using the percentage of different responses. To compute the percent of response,

the number of responses to each choice was divided by the total number of respondents who

answered the question. After that each respondent’s demographics were studied and matched so

that most affected areas can be indicated. In the end a proper graph was formed for all the

questions and their most and least popular responses, for better and keen understanding of result.

Scope of the study

The limitation of this report is to recognize the effects of artificial intelligence on unemployment

and to study that how artificial intelligence is the major cause of unemployment now a days and

how this problem can be tackled. Desire for this analysis was initiated when people realized that

artificial intelligence is taking over jobs of common white and blue collar people. This study

cannot be restricted to an organization or a country rather it is a worldwide problem. Almost

every country is trying to progress and use of technology is common in a progressive country.

Since robots are performing common job done by man, many people are left with no jobs. Data

for this report was collected from questionnaires, analysis of previous reports, surveys and

statistical comparison.

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 Limitations

This report is limited to the use of a questionnaire and previous analysis of the report as source of

data collection method, as these statistical techniques are not reliable because they are generally

concise. Also many other aspects of this threat are not been discussed. The sample chosen for

this report is just for study basis and may-not reflecting the whole population. Lastly the use of

simple statistical techniques gives the sense of subjectivity in understanding analysis of study.

All these trials have been made to decry the effects of these limitations on this report.

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 Section II

Findings, Conclusion and Recommendations

Introduction

This study was designed to determine the effects of Artificial intelligence on unemployment and

methods to analyse its negative impacts. Fifty questionnaires were distributed among the

students and faculty members of COMSATS Abbottabad and the response rate was 85%. This

section includes Findings, Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendations.

Findings

The findings will be presented in three parts namely Result of Survey, Demographic Profile and

Areas of Job Performance Affected by AI.

Result of Survey

Fi

gure 1: Percentages of Survey Results

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We concluded a survey based on students and faculty members of COMSATS Abbottabad

campus. According to the survey, majority of the respondents strongly favoured that robots will

steal the jobs in near future. 52% of the respondents Agreed and 30% of the individuals strongly

agreed that AI has negative impact on the rate of employment.9% of the individuals Disagreed

and only 2% “Strongly Disagreed” to this perspective, while 7% had Neutral opinion.

Demographic Profile

All return responses from the faculty members and regular students of COMSATS Abbottabad.

The respondents were also asked to indicate their age group; all the age ranges were represented

in the results as show in Figure 2.

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10

8
Strongly Agree
Agree
6
Neutral
Disagree
4 Strongly Disagree

Figure 2: Age Distribution of Respondents

Individuals of age below 20 years responded to the option “Agree”. Individuals between age

groups 20 to 30 and 30 to 45 selected the option “Strongly Agree”. 50% of the individuals of the

age group above 45 years opted for “Strongly Agree” and rest of the 50% opposed this idea.

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Area of Job Performances Affected by Artificial Intelligence:

Respondents were given a list of areas of job that are affected by Artificial Intelligence and were

asked to give their opinions that which field is most affected by AI. The results were illustrated

in a graph below.

Effect of AI on Job Performances

Media and Communication

Engineering

Attendant

Economy

Transport

Military

Medical

Education

Industrial

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Figure 3: Effect of AI on Job Performances

According to another survey conducted individuals were asked to tell the percentage of impact of

AI on some specific fields. In the light of survey we came to conclusion that AI has mostly

affected the Media and communication as well as Industrial field and has least impact on the

educational department because till now in many countries Teachers are preferred more than

Robots, as they groom and teach moral values to their students which Artificial Intelligence is

not capable of doing.

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AI has high influence on Media and Communication because now a day’s almost every form of

cellular communication i.e. androids are based on the principles of AI. In Industrial field AI has

taken place of human force and is revolutionizing the whole industrial world.

RESPONSES
JOB FIELDS

87%
Industrial

Education 44%

Medical 62%

Military 55%

Transport 77%

Economy 83%

Attendant 70%

Engineering 60%

Media and Communication 90%

Table 1: Effect of AI on Jobs

Discussion

Results of our survey indicate that majority of the respondents opted for the option “Agree”,

regarding the statement that robots will steal our jobs and AI have negative impacts on

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employment rate. According to Demographic Profiles, the respondents of age group between 20

to 45 believe that AI has adverse effect on employment as most people of this age group are

engaged in different jobs.

According to another survey done by A Check-Up for Artificial Intelligence in the Enterprise -

InformationWeek, states that most common professions are widely effected by AI. The most

effected occupation includes Media and Communication and Industrial department and least

effected occupation is educational department. These AI are revolutionizing the electronics of

the world. According to the recent Teradata study, 80% of IT and business decision makers have

already implemented some form of AI in their business. Study also found that companies have a

desire to increase AI spending. 42% of respondents to the Teradata study said they thought there

was more room for AI implementation across the business, and 30% said there organisations

weren’t investing enough in AI. Forrester recently released their 2018 Predictions and also found

that firms have an interest investing in AI. 51% of their 2017 respondents said their firms were

investing n AI, up from 40% 2016, and 70% of respondents said their firms have implemented

AI within the next twelve months.

In a widely acclaimed study, Carl Benedikt Frey and Micheal Osborne found out the probability

of automation for 702 jobs and found that 47% of employees in America are at high risk of

losing jobs because of automation and AI. Some other studies also noted an equivalent figure of

35% for work force for UK and 49% for Japan.

On one side there are techies who say that machines in AI are ready to take all jobs. On other

side there economist who say that AI revolution or any new technology always create more jobs

than they destroy. Well the real answer lies somewhere in between. Artificial Intelligence will

not lead to mass unemployment, but it will shake up the foundation of many companies that rely

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on out dated technologies, which will result in huge losses. Those companies that will embrace

it, will disrupt the industry and speed up the existing trend of computer-related automation which

will enable the employees to learn new skills more quickly than in the past.

(John Barnett, Project Coordinator at Iflexion with over 14 years of experience on IT industry)

Conclusions

Our report is concluded on the basis of findings regarding the effects of Artificial Intelligence on

employment rate. It has both positive and negative impacts on employment rate. In some cases, it

is stealing the jobs while in other cases it is providing us more rewarding and creative jobs.

We can say that the nature of job is changing rather than disappearing. It is actually a conflict

between job destruction and job creation. But wherever new technology emerges, there has

always been disruption. On the basis of our survey result, two areas i.e. Industry and Media

Communication are mostly affected.

In the end we conclude our report by saying that we should be aware of AI related opportunities

and threats.

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 Recommendations

Based on findings and conclusions in this study, the following recommendations are made:

1. We should transform our culture to make it rapidly adaptable to AI related privileges

and hazards.

2. People should have necessary knowledge and skills to thrive in the Automated

Intelligence world.

3. We should accept that technological change in our life and develop an attitude

towards continuous reskilling. As the world is continuously evolving so we must

develop outer mind set of accepting it.

4. The organizations should focus on enhancing the jobs rather than diminish them. But

in the end we should always encourage our society towards the significance of human

skills that make them remarkable.

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 Bibliography
A Check-Up for Artificial Intelligence in the Enterprise - InformationWeek. (n.d.). Retrieved

from https://www.informationweek.com/big-data/ai-machine-learning/a-check-up-for-

artificial-intelligence-in-the-enterprise/d/d-id/1330535?

Ford, M. (2013). Could artificial intelligence create an unemployment crisis? Communications

of the ACM, 56(7), 37. doi:10.1145/2483852.2483865

Literature Review: AI and Unemployment. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://seesgetdegrees.weebly.com/literature-review-ai-and-unemployment.html

Nilsson, N. J. (1982). The Predicate Calculus in AI. Principles of Artificial Intelligence, 131-

159. Doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-09438-9_5

Shewan, D. (2017, June 8). Robots will destroy our jobs ? and we're not ready for it. Retrieved

from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/11/robots-jobs-employees-

artificial-intelligence

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 Appendix
Questionnaire:

The Effects of Artificial Intelligence on Unemployment

Students in COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad are conducting this

survey to determine the perceptions of the facts of AI on employees.

Questions Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly

Agree Disagree
1. Does AI have negative
impact on employment
rate?
2. Robots are reliable then
human
3. Robots have negative
impact on country
economy.
4. Major cause of
unemployment is AI
5. Work force is at risk
due to automation?
6. We should be concerned
about Robots in field of
education?
7. We should be concerned
about Robots in
Military?
8. Development in most of
the countries is due to
AI?
9. Unemployment rate will
increase in decade due
to AI.
10. Unemployment due to
AI is causing mental
stress in people.
11. There are some jobs
only confined to
humans
12. Emerging pace of
Robotics is beneficial

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 for present generation?

Survey:
Percentage of Effect of AI on Job Fields.

Q): The impact of Artificial Intelligence on the future of following jobs:

Choose the appropriate percentage according to your opinion.

Job Fields Percentages

Industrial 25% 45% 75% 95%
Education 25% 45% 75% 95%
Medical 25% 45% 75% 95%
Military 25% 45% 75% 95%
Transport 25% 45% 75% 95%
Economy 25% 45% 75% 95%
Attendant 25% 45% 75% 95%
Engineering 25% 45% 75% 95%
Media
25% 45% 75% 95%
Communication

Thank you for your valuable time to help us!

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