As AI spreads, software developers fear becoming obsolete

One a week at lunchtime, a small crowd gathers outside Microsoft Korea’s Seoul office, holding protests over fears that artificial intelligence (AI) could make their jobs obsolete. The weekly demonstration has become a visible symbol of the deep anxiety gripping white-collar workers, particularly software developers and other employees who are building the very AI systems that could one day replace them. Union officials say about 50 positions — mostly software developers — have been affected by AI-driven restructuring over the past three years, and they worry that another 10 percent of roughly 550 jobs could be at risk as the technology is rolled out more aggressively. “For example, in one technical support division that handles phone and email queries from customers using Microsoft products, workers have been told to help train an AI agent that will automatically suggest solutions to problems,” Kwak Chang-yong, secretary-general of the union, told The Korea Times. “It naturally prompts a question, ‘What will happen to me when I complete the training?’” In the United St

Read Full Article