Women are 40% more likely to replace their jobs with artificial intelligence, with up to eight million jobs in Britain at risk, experts warn

Chatbots could take over eight million jobs in Britain – and women will be the worst hit, a leading think tank has warned.

Analysis has shown that almost two-thirds of tasks performed by employees can be automated by AI, with administrative and entry-level jobs most at risk.

But the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) claims the ‘jobs apocalypse’ is not inevitable if the government acts quickly to ensure people are not replaced.

With the right regulations and tax incentives, AI could instead boost the UK economy by £306 billion – and even boost the salaries of some by more than a third.

The report is the first of its kind to look at the impact of generative AI – the technology that mimics the human brain in generating text, images and videos from scratch – on the UK labor market.

With the right regulations and tax incentives, AI could instead boost the UK economy by £306 billion – and even boost the salaries of some by more than a third. Pictured: file photo

Researchers analyzed 22,000 human-performed tasks, covering every type of job, and found that AI was likely to impact the economy in two waves.

In the first wave, which is already underway, one in ten workers are already exposed to automation, with secretarial and customer jobs most at risk.

Women will be hardest hit as they are more likely to hold these jobs, while young people will also suffer as companies hire fewer entry-level jobs.

However, 59 percent of jobs examined in the study could be affected by the second wave of AI – and would increasingly include higher-earning roles.

In the ‘worst case scenario’, 7.9 million jobs would be lost, the report shows.

This is a “real possibility” without government action and if companies are left to their own devices, the report warns, recommending regulation and tax incentives to ensure people’s jobs adapt to AI rather than being replaced.

If that does happen, the best-case scenario could result in no job losses and an economic boost of 13 percent of GDP.

The report suggests that AI could also boost wages, with “huge” increases of more than 30 percent in some cases, but not in others.

In the first wave, which is already underway, one in ten workers are already exposed to automation, with secretarial and customer jobs most at risk. Pictured: file photo

It could also free up more workers in sectors suffering from chronic workforce shortages, such as social care and mental health.

Report author Carsten Jung, senior economist at IPPR, said generative AI has the potential to be “a gamechanger for millions of us” over the next five years.

He said; ‘The question now is not so much whether AI can be useful, but rather how quickly and in what way employers will use it.

“History shows that technological transition can be a blessing if managed well, or it can result in disruption if it unfolds without control.

‘But technology is not destiny and a jobs apocalypse is not inevitable – the government, employers and unions now have the opportunity to make crucial design decisions that ensure we manage this new technology well.

“If they don’t take action soon, it could be too late.”

Co-author Bhargav Srinivasa Desikan, senior research fellow at IPPR, said: ‘We are in a sliding doors moment and policymakers urgently need to develop a strategy to ensure our labor market adapts to the 21st century, without leaving millions behind.

“It is critical that all workers benefit from these technological advances, not just the big tech companies.”