Artificial Intelligence and Its Impacts on Employability
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the amount of artificial intelligence that was used in seven selected businesses in Thailand and its impacts on employability. In-depth interviews were conducted with each participant that lasted between 30 to 45 minutes. The use of AI varied across the various businesses from as high as 40% to 0%. Thailand is slower than some other nations in switching to AI, but that will change in a few years’ time as some business were reported to be in the process of AI development. A few other businesses were less enthusiastic in AI adoption because their businesses are still highly reliant on humans. The high costs of embracing AI and translating software programs into the Thai language made others reluctant to make the shift. Current job displacements have been low, but the numbers are expected to run to high levels in five to 10 years once AI is widely employed. The younger generation of employees were more accepting and less resistant to AI, while the opposite was true of the older generations. Many participants also mentioned the necessity of upskilling to survive and maintain future employability.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright: Asia-Pacific International University reserve exclusive rights to publish, reproduce and distribute the manuscript and all contents therein.
References
AI? It’s not sci-fi anymore (2017). Pensions & Investments, 45(8), 0012. https://search.ebscohost.com
Andra, J. (2017). Human + Machine: How will AI shape the workforce of the future? Utah Business, 31(8), 38. https://www.utahbusiness.com/will-ai-shape-workforce-future/
Atkinson, R. (2017). In defense of robots. National Review, 69(7), 35–37. https://www.nationalreview.com/ magazine/2017/04/17/robots-taking-jobs-technology-workers/
Barrow, K., & Olaye, M. (2017). Q: Should business leaders be worried about the rise of artificial intelligence? Director, 70(10), 20. https://search.ebscohost.com
Bolton, C., Machová, V., Kovacova, M., & Valaskova, K. (2018). The power of human-machine collaboration: Artificial Intelligence, business automation, and the smart economy. Economics, Management & Financial Markets, 13(4), 51–56. https://doi.org/10.22381/EMFM13420184
Boulton, C. (2018, January 4). AI in the workplace: Paving the way for man-machine collaboration. CIO (13284045), 1. https://www.cio.com/article/3245784/ai-in-the-workplace-paving-the-way-for-man- machine-collaboration.html
Brown, A. (2016). Robots at work: Where do we fit? Mechanical Engineering, 138(4), 32–37. https://doi.org/ 10.1115/1.2016-Apr-1
Buaubol, K., Huangsuntornchai, C., & Jiravuttipong, G. (2018). Opening Session: The future of Thailand in the age of technology disruption. TDRI Quarterly Review, 33(2), 4–7. https://search.ebscohost.com
Canada Newswire. (2019, March 18). Young people consider artificial intelligence a threat to future employment: Centennial College/CivicAction survey. Canada Newswire. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/young-people-consider-artificial-intelligence-a-threat-to-future-employment-centennial-college-civicaction-survey-857077474.html
Crosman, P. (2017). All the ways AI will slash Wall Street jobs. American Banker, 182(52), 1. https://search.ebscohost.com
Daugherty, P., & Wilson, H. (2018). Human + machine: Reimagining work in the age of Al. Harvard Business Review Press.
Dickson, B. (2017). Artificial Intelligence Creates New Job Opportunities. PC Magazine, 114–122. https://search.ebscohost.com
Doupnik, E. (2018). Report: Artificial intelligence to develop 2.3M Jobs by 2020: Gartner experts predict that the technology will remove redundancies and refocus on the consumer experience. WWD: Women’s Wear Daily, 12. https://search.ebscohost.com
Enterprise Innovation editors. (2019, Apr 15). Singapore ranks #1 on overall AI readiness in Asia-Pacific. HRM Asia. https://hrmasia.com/singapore-tops-ai-readiness-asia-pacific/
Flinders, K. (2017). Robots will create more jobs than they eradicate by 2020. Computer Weekly, 2. https://www.computerweekly.com/news/450431755/Robots-will-create-more-jobs-than-they-eradicate-by-2020
Garwood, M. (2018). Ready or not, here comes AI. Broadcasting & Cable, 148(17), 14–N.PAG. https://search.ebscohost.com
Grose, T. (2017). Replaced by machines. ASEE Prism, 26(7), 30–33. https://www.asee-prism.org/replaced-by-machines/
Hadley, T. (2017). Latest vibes from the future of jobs. Recruiter, 2. https://search.ebscohost.com
Hawser, A. (2019). Reimagining the world of work. (Cover story). Global Finance, 33(2), 12–16. https://search.ebscohost.com
Herold, B. (2017). Facing an uncertain future: Automation and artificial intelligence are disrupting the labor market. What do K–12 educators and policymakers need to know? Education Week, 37(7), 3–6. https://search.ebscohost.com
How AI powered robots may replace highly trained medical, law and IT professionals by 2022? (2017). FRPT–Software Snapshot, 21–22. https://search.ebscohost.com
HR meets AI: The benefits vs. legal risks of artificial intelligence. (2017). HR Specialist: Employment Law, 47(6), 7. https://search.ebscohost.com
Jesuthasan, R. (2017). The human response to AI. People & Strategy, 40(3), 9–10. https://search.ebscohost.com
Ketter, P. (2017). Artificial intelligence creeps into talent development. TD: Talent Development, 71(4), 22–25. https://www.td.org/magazines/td-magazine/artificial-intelligence-creeps-into-talent-development
Lee, K. (2017). Artificial intelligence, automation, and the economy. Chinese American Forum, 32(3), 22–23. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2016/12/20/artificial-intelligence-automation-and-economy
Lee, K. (2019). The truth about robots. Time International (South Pacific Edition), 193(4), 60–61. https://search.ebscohost.com
Lev-ram, M. (2017). Tech’s magic 8 ball says embrace the future. Fortune, 176(5), 28–29. https://search.ebscohost.com
Morikawa, M. (2017). Firms’ expectations about the impact of AI and robotics: Evidence from a survey. Economic Inquiry, 55(2), 1054–1063. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecin.12412
Nguyen, A. (2018, February 15). Harvard grad raids Silicon Valley to grow AI at Thai bank. Bloomberg.com. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-14/harvard-grad-raids-silicon-valley-to-grow-ai-at-oldest-thai-bank
Nguyen, A. (2019, October 22). Thailand’s biggest mutual fund company embraces AI. Bloomberg.com. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-21/biggest-thai-mutual-fund-company-embraces-ai-to-boost-assets
Nicholas, A., & Sacco, S. (2018). Automation, jobs, & employment. Proceedings of the Northeast Business & Economics Association, 220–226. https://www.dropbox.com/s/5ibzj3f3aq4rkve/2018%20NBEA%20 Conference%20Proceedings%20-%20FINAL%20-%2003-13-19.pdf?dl=0
Nott, G. (2018, June 19). Public fear of AI job disruption outstrips expert opinion: CIO (13284045), 1. https://www.cio.com/article/3498780/public-fear-of-ai-job-disruption-outstrips-expert-opinion.html
Noyes, K. (2016). Now that AI has mastered “Go,” are all our jobs next? CIO (13284045), 6. https://search. ebscohost.com
Palmer, I., Dunford, R., & Buchanan, D. (2017). Managing organizational change (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education (Asia).
Petcharit, A., Sornsaruht, P., & Pimdee, P. (2020). An analysis of Total Quality Management (TQM) within the Thai auto parts sector. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering, 16(2), 131–145. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v16i02.11917
PR Newswire. (2019, May 22). Thailand promotes AI, robotics technology to spur industry 4.0 readiness. PR Newswire US. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thailand-promotes-ai-robotics-technology-to-spur-industry-4-0-readiness-300854969.html
Rotman, D. (2017). “The relentless pace of automation.” MIT Technology Review, 120(2), 92–95. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603465/the-relentless-pace-of-automation/
Saran, C. (2017). Jobs at risk from AI productivity boost: The Trades Union Congress has called for a debate about the future of employment, as uncertainty grows around the many roles becoming automated or replaced by artificial intelligence. Computer Weekly, 4–5. https://search.ebscohost.com
Simons, C. (2017). Building the future, living in the past? New Internationalist, (507), 19–21. https://search. ebscohost.com
Thomas, G. (2018). Robot-proofing jobs: how to mitigate the AI threat. CIO (13284045), 1. https://search. ebscohost.com
Thongnab, T. (2018, September 12). Three heavyweights, GC, FRONTIS and Microsoft join together to kick off “AI for Road Safety” project. Microsoft.com. https://news.microsoft.com/th-th/2018/09/12/ai_roadsafety _gc_en/
Tyagi, A. (2017). Artificial intelligence: Boon or bane? The IUP Journal of Computer Sciences, 11(2), 43–56. https://search.ebscohost.com
White, J. (2016). Nice work if you can get it. New Scientist, 230(3079), 33–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/ S02624079(16)31146-0
Zhang, C., Dai, J., & Vasarhelyi, M. (2018). The impact of disruptive technologies on accounting and auditing education: How should the profession adapt? CPA Journal, 88(9), 20–26. https://www.cpajournal.com/ 2018/09/13/the-impact-of-disruptive-technologies-on-accounting-and-auditing-education/