AI advancement brings job displacement, new opportunities
Source: Chronicle News Service / Premchand Thongam

Imphal, April 28 2025: As Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and applications continue to advance at a rapid pace, concerns about potential job losses, especially in labour-intensive and non-skilled or semi-skilled sectors, are growing among the people.

At the same time, AI is opening doors to new opportunities and creating roles that never existed before.

The shift is evident across multiple sectors.

Work environments in offices, documentation processes, agricultural activities, and even conventional and electronic media are undergoing rapid transformation.

Technology has been advancing steadily, with AI pushing this evolution further.

A notable example is the telephone.

Once reliant on cords and manual dialling, telephones evolved into mobile handsets capable of saving contacts and dialling numbers digitally.

Now, smartphones, with AI functionalities, allow users to give voice commands to make calls, showcasing how AI has changed even the simplest of daily activities.

Industries like manufacturing and customer service have been among the first to experience direct impacts.

In the past, many workers were employed in assembly lines at factories, performing repetitive tasks such as packing products, or sorting items.

However, a significant number of low-skill factory jobs have been eliminated with the introduction of robots and automated machines capable of doing these tasks faster and more efficiently.

The impact of AI is not confined to places where it is visibly present.

States like Manipur, where AI adoption is still in the nascent stages, are facing indirect consequences.

Big companies based in bigger states and metropolitan cities are increasingly turning to AI to handle tasks such as customer support, bookkeeping, and simple computer operations.

These jobs, which might once have been outsourced to workers from states like Manipur or the broader Northeast region, are now being absorbed by AI systems.

As a result, employment opportunities that could have been available to workers in Manipur are diminishing, often without the immediate visibility of AI in their surroundings.

Addressing the growing anxiety over AI-related job losses, head of the Computer Science Department at Manipur University, Dr Khumukcham Robindro said that the notion of AI destroying jobs is a misconception.

He emphasised that instead of eliminating jobs, AI would create new roles and opportunities.

According to Dr Robindro, AI will act as an assistant in job execution across different sectors, enhancing efficiency while simultaneously creating demand for new kinds of jobs.

He further stated that given the talents and skills of people in the state, Manipur's youth could greatly benefit by entering the AI sector, which promises a wide range of opportunities.

However, some experts maintain a more cautious view.

They argue that while AI will indeed create new job opportunities, it will also inevitably replace jobs that are labour-intensive and require minimal or no skills.

Sectors such as manufacturing, customer service, and logistics are expected to experience major shifts due to automation.

The greatest impact, according to experts, will be on low-skilled and unskilled workers who may find it difficult to adapt to the changing job market without substantial reskilling.

Meanwhile, industries related to industrial technology, data science, machine learning, neural networks, and AI development are advancing at a rapid pace, creating a rising demand for highly skilled professionals.

Al's reach now extends into almost every sector, including medical, legal, and trade, making job execution faster, easier, and delivering better outcomes.

Experts suggest that in order to remain relevant and competitive in the future job market, today s youth must acquire emerging skills, particularly in AI, cybersecurity, and digital literacy.

This new skill Set will become increasingly critical as AI continues to reshape the professional landscape.

The ultimate impact of AI on the job market will also heavily depend on government policies related to education, skill development, and inclusion.

Experts emphasised that a balanced approach-promoting AI advancement while ensuring that young people are trained in new skills - will help minimise job losses and create a more inclusive economy.

Ensuring the workforce equipped to adapt to technological changes will be key to harnessing the benefits of AI while mitigating its challenges.

(This article is published under the 5th Scientific Journalism Program on 'Artificial Intelligence and Its Usage' of the Public Relations and Media Management (PRMM) Cell, Central Agricultural University, Imphal) .

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