The rise of the robots may force ministers to introduce human worker quotas, leading legal experts warn

The International Bar Association is concerned about the impact of AI on jobs
Up to a third of graduate jobs around the world could be made obsolete
Manufacturing jobs and high-routine occupations like accountants are at risk

Published: 11:13 EDT, 4 April 2017 | Updated: 11:26 EDT, 4 April 2017

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Greater protections are needed to stop robots stealing your job, according to a renowned organisation of international lawyers.

Legal experts are concerned that the pace of developments in artificial intelligence are outstripping the ability of global governments to make laws to deal with the consequences.

And they are worried that this is leading to is gap between current legislation and new laws - including 'human job quotas' - that they feel are necessary to protect people from being replaced by machines.

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The International Bar Association has issued a report detailing the threats posed to people's jobs by artificial intelligence. Lawyers are concerned that developments in AI are happening faster than global governments can make laws to deal with the consequences (stock image)

THE FINDINGS

The International Bar Association has warned that up to a third of graduate jobs around the world could be made obsolete by artificial intelligence.

Among the professions highlighted in a 120-page report are high-routine occupations like accountants and court clerks.

The IBA report makes a number of recommendations to protect people's jobs.

These include ensuring that a minimum numbers of people - or 'human quotas' - are guaranteed to be employed in a given sector.

The claims come in a new report from the International Bar Association (IBA), which focuses on the impact of the onward march of technology.

This rapid progress has led to a fourth industrial revolution - or Industry 4.0 -which the IBA says threatens to make up to a third of graduate jobs around the world obsolete.

Alongside manufacturing, high-routine occupations like accountants and court clerks are also at risk.

The 120-page document explores some of the potential changes brought about by AI in the future and the likely impact such systems will have on the workplace.

Among a wide range of recommendations, the report suggests world governments could introduce mandatory minimum numbers of people - or 'human quotas' - to be employed in a given sector.

It also envisages labelling to indicate that products are 'made by humans' - to give consumers the choice to support man-made industries - as well as taxation for companies which make use of AI in their businesses.

Stricter controls may also be needed to prevent accidents, injuries and even deaths caused by AI in the workplace.

And we may need to give greater thought to the type of jobs we wouldn't robots to do - including looking after babies and small children.

Gerlind Wisskirchen of the IBA, and coordinator of the report, said: 'Certainly, technological revolution is not new, but in past times it has been gradual.

This is not the first time that the threat posed by AI to jobs has been raised in recent headlines. A report issued in March found that 38 per cent of US jobs will be replaced by robots and artificial intelligence by the early 2030s (stock image)

INDUSTRY 4.0

The term Industry 4.0 refers to the technical integration of AI systems into production and logistics.

It also encompasses the use of the 'internet of things' - data connections between everyday objects.

Within the next five years, it is expected that over 50 billion connected machines will exist throughout the world.

Previous industrial revolutions have been categorised by steam power and machine manufacturing; the beginning of electrification at the end of the 19th century; and the spread of computers and the internet from the 1970s onward.

'What is new about the present revolution is the alacrity with which change is occurring, and the broadness of impact being brought about by AI and robotics.

'The AI phenomenon is on an exponential curve, while legislation is doing its best on an incremental basis.

'New labour and employment legislation is urgently needed to keep pace with increased automation.'

This is not the first time that the threat posed by AI to jobs has been raised in recent headlines.

A report issued in March found that 38 per cent of US jobs will be replaced by robots and artificial intelligence by the early 2030s.

The analysis, by accountancy giant PwC, also revealed that financial service jobs that are at most risk of a robot takeover - 61 per cent could be replaced by machines.

It also found that 30 per cent of UK jobs, 35 per cent in Germany and 21 per cent in Japan were at risk.

The analysis revealed that financial service jobs are at most risk and 61 per cent could be replaced by machines. It also found that 30 per cent of UK jobs, 35 per cent in Germany and 21 per cent in Japan were at risk (stock image)

PwC found that the US and UK share similarities in what the future holds, but different sectors will fall victim to machine workers.

PWC said financial and insurance workers in the US focus mostly on the domestic retail market and have a lower education level than London specialists.

Most workers in the UK that are at high risk are in transportation and storage, retail, manufacturing, and administrative and support services, the experts found.

The report said up to 10.4 million jobs – 30 per cent of those in the UK – are very likely to be automated by the early 2030s.