Comment by Owen Reidy

AI will replace some tasks within many occupations. It is well recognised that routine cognitive roles, such as clerical and legal, are most at risk of disruption, while non-routine manual roles, such as farming and plumbing, are least at risk. In contrast to the three previous industrial revolutions, the disruption will manifest most heavily in white collar sectors and tasks. There is risk of attrition through reduced hires of younger cohorts and non-replacement of retiring staff. [...] An additional concern are the potential changes in the distribution of returns to labour and capital leading to a rise in inequality, job polarisation, loss of agency and voice for workers, as well as rising income inequality. If these outcomes were to come to pass, we are looking at a breakdown in social cohesion. Ireland is particularly at risk from potentially transformative changes given the high level of knowledge-intensive and professional jobs here. [...] We will need to redesign social insurance taking an approach based on the just transition principle to adequately protect the incomes of workers and employers, with a view to better labour market matching. We will need to rebalance the composition of taxation away from labour and towards capital owners.