London – London mayor Sadiq Khan on Thursday joined the chorus of warnings on the impact of artificial intelligence for jobs, saying that the UK capital risks “an era of mass unemployment”.
Khan will point also to “huge potential benefits” of the technology if used responsibly, as he unveils a review into its impact on the capital’s jobs market alongside free AI training for millions of Londoners.
He will urge swift action to harness those benefits before the technology “becomes a weapon of mass destruction of jobs”.
AI has the potential to bring huge benefits, but if used recklessly, it could usher in a new era of mass unemployment.
We need to act fast to future-proof our economy and our workforce ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/cJ0FI8AeWG
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) January 15, 2026
The debate continues over whether AI will destroy jobs, with answers remaining elusive.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office on Thursday said that “AI is going to reshape the world of work”.
A Downing Street spokesperson added: “Some jobs will be… more impacted than others, but the new roles and opportunities it will create is something that we will embrace.”
The United Nations recently warned that AI and automation could exacerbate global labour market challenges, particularly for educated young people in wealthier countries seeking their first high-skill jobs.
Most forecasts see gradual change.
Management consultancy McKinsey recently forecast that 30 percent of US jobs could be automated by 2030, with 60 percent significantly altered.
Analysts from US research firm Gartner have suggested that AI will create more jobs than it eliminates by 2027.
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Source: AFP
