Around 8 million jobs could be lost to artificial intelligence in the UK in a “jobs apocalypse” with women, younger workers and those on lower wages most at risk from the technology.

According to a new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), there are two key stages of generative AI adoption. The first stage, which is currently happening and a second stage in which companies will integrate existing AI technologies further and more deeply into their processes.

The organisation analysed 22,000 tasks and found that in the current stage, 11 per cent of tasks undertaken by workers are exposed to AI. These include “routine cognitive” tasks such as database management along with “organisational and strategic” tasks such as inventory management.

In the second stage, AI could potentially do 59 per cent of tasks and this could affect increasingly higher earning jobs such as copywriting and graphic design.

In the report the IPPR set out three scenarios. In the worst case, the IPPR predicted 7.9 million jobs would be lost and the economy would make no GDP gains over a three to five year period.

In the best case scenario, all jobs at risk will be adapted to work with AI leading to no job losses and the economy is boosted by £306 billion per year.

The IPPR urged the government to develop a job-centric strategy to ensure that that the benefits of AI and automation are shared across the economy. This should be done through fiscal policy measures such as tax incentives and regulatory changes.

Bhargav Srinivasa Desikan, senior research fellow at IPPR, said that the UK needed to investigate how to steer technological change in a way that allowed for new job opportunities, increased productivity and economic benefits for all.

“We are at a sliding doors moment, and policy makers urgently to develop a strategy to make sure our labour market adapts to the 21st century, without leaving millions behind,” he added. “It is crucial that all workers benefit from these technological advancements, and not just the big tech corporations.”

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