'Sliding doors moment' | 8 million UK jobs at risk of AI replacement unless action taken, think tank warns

Up to 8 million jobs in the UK are at risk of being replaced with AI unless action is taken, a think tank has warned.

First of its kind analysis from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) of the impact of generative AI on the UK labour market uncovers a distinct moment for the UK, with possibilities for huge job disruption in future or significant GDP gains, depending on government policy. 

The report identifies two key stages of generative AI adoption: the first wave, which is here and now, and a second wave in which companies will integrate existing AI technologies further and more deeply into their processes. 

IPPR analysis of 22,000 tasks in the UK economy, covering every type of job, found that 11% of tasks done by workers are already exposed to in the first wave.