AI Threatens India's Jobs: UN Envoy Warns

United Nations Technology Envoy Dr. Amandeep Singh Gill has issued a strong caution to India regarding the potential for widespread job losses driven by Artificial Intelligence. He highlighted that AI, comparable to electricity in its transformative power, poses significant risks, especially for the country's vital IT and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors. Gill noted that AI's core strength lies in pattern recognition, which will inevitably disrupt numerous industries.

He emphasized that while AI should be embraced with hope, it requires careful management to ensure human values and global cooperation guide its development. The Envoy warned of deeper societal risks, including algorithmic bias, misinformation, and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few. Gill stressed that the focus should remain on humans mastering technology, not the reverse, to prevent societal disconnection and distraction from critical global challenges.

The UN is working towards a global framework for AI governance, with India preparing to host a significant summit on the technology. Gill also addressed the energy paradox of AI's increasing demand for resources, advocating for accelerated renewable energy transitions and international collaboration on energy-intensive AI models. He suggested that AI applications in warfare, specifically lethal autonomous weapons, require immediate legal limitations, drawing parallels to nuclear non-proliferation efforts.