Page 19 - Delaware Lawyer - Fall 2023

equity and the precarious outcomes of AI technologies are the primary focus of this discussion. It is not an indict- ment of AI but rather an examination of the human values inculcated into it and their disparate outcomes, which may need reexamination.
Moreover, when data scientists col- lect, organize, analyze and install the data, they include their biases, values and preferences in AI algorithms. Dis- criminatory misinformation and disin- formation are likely outcomes. AI tech- nologies, therefore, emanating from misinformation or disinformation would amplify existing societal inequities. To a considerable extent, the quality of data underpinning AI systems determines
whether they realize forecasts for prom- ising or precarious outcomes.
AI's Inequitable Impact on Jobs
Promising AI forecasts suggest thou- sands of new jobs and career paths in data science, programming, bioengi- neering, robotics and technology-re- lated fields. The tremendous positive impact of AI automation in mining, farming and manufacturing is evidence for these optimistic forecasts. Work in these areas has become safer, more pro- ductive and more efficient, and product quality is higher with the induction of new AI technology. In contrast, other AI forecasts suggest elimination of thousands of jobs in diverse industries
such as agriculture, finance, health- care, law, accounting, transportation, food and beverage, and beyond. The McKinsey Global Institute estimates that AI automation will displace between 400 million and 800 million individu- als worldwide by 2030.1 According to the World Economic Forum, however, jobs destroyed will be surpassed by the number of new jobs created.2 Informa- tion emanating from both promising and precarious forecasts portrays a dis- parate impact on communities of color in both the loss of current jobs and access to new AI jobs.
An analysis of employment trends by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that more than half of African Americans (65%) and three-fourths of Hispanics (75%) work in occupational groups with forecasts of significant job loss from AI technologies — transpor- tation, food services, natural resources, sales, and office occupations. In con- trast, only 57% of whites and 42% of Asians work in these categories.3 This high concentration into a few occupa- tion groups makes Hispanics and Afri- can Americans decisively more suscep- tible to job loss from AI automation.
As forecasts above suggest, human labor is becoming less significant in the AI-driven reconfiguring of how society and the economy operate. Jobs and “careers of the future” will be increasingly knowledge-based and driven by AI technologies. Experts argue that AI will create many new career fields and sig- nificantly expand in others, permeating every sector.4 Lack of preparedness for jobs and careers of the future by those projected to experience the most job loss from AI-driven technologies is a significant concern.
AI-related jobs are increasing rap- idly. In 2021, nearly a quarter (24%) of individuals in the U.S. workforce were employed in AI-related occupa- tions.5 Information on individuals pre- paring for the “careers of the future”
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