Artificial intelligence (AI) could become “a weapon of mass destruction of jobs” if not properly controlled, Sir Sadiq Khan has said.<\/p>\n
During his annual speech at Mansion House later, the mayor outlined his concerns about the impact of AI on London’s labour market.<\/p>\n
He said urgent action was needed to “seize the potential of AI and use it as a superpower for positive transformation and creation” and to prevent “a new era of mass unemployment”.<\/p>\n
London was “at the sharpest edge of change” because of the “colossal” impact on jobs in key sectors including finance, professional services and the creative industries, he added.<\/p>\n
The mayor said AI could transform public services and tackle complex challenges like cancer care and the climate crisis, but if used recklessly, it could “usher in a new era of mass unemployment, accelerated inequality and an unprecedented concentration of wealth and power”.<\/p>\n
“We mustn’t drift, absentmindedly, into a future we didn’t ask for and don’t want.<\/p>\n
“We need to wake up and make a choice: seize the potential of AI and use it as a superpower for positive transformation and creation, or surrender to it and sit back and watch as it becomes a weapon of mass destruction of jobs.”<\/p>\n
Polling carried out by City Hall in November found 56% of London workers expect AI to affect their job within the next year.<\/p>\n
Sir Sadiq believes that without intervention, roles may disappear faster than new ones are created, with entry-level jobs likely to be the first to go, “robbing our young people of that vital first step on the career ladder”.<\/p>\n
He also announced a taskforce of experts from government, the skills sector and the AI industry to review the situation and assess how to support Londoners in the future.<\/p>\n
Findings from the review are due in the summer, and Sir Sadiq also announced that his office would commission free AI training for all Londoners.<\/p>\n
The mayor added that “we have a moral, social and economic duty to act” quickly, as research suggests 70% of skills in the average job will change by 2030.<\/p>\n
A No 10 spokesperson said it was training 7.5 million workers – a fifth of the UK’s entire workforce – with the essential AI skills they need over the coming years.<\/p>\n
“In April, we’ll be launching new short courses for businesses in areas like AI and digital skills to give people the tools they need for the jobs of the future,” they added.<\/p>\n
The speech comes amid growing concern over the creation of sexualised deepfake images of women and children using Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot.<\/p>\n