Ottawa allocates $50 million in federal budget to protect against job losses from AI advancements

The federal government is taking steps to address the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce, setting aside $50 million for skills retraining for workers who may be affected by AI technology. This investment is part of a larger $2.3 billion initiative to boost the adoption of AI in Canada.

According to experts, the rise of AI could lead to significant changes in the economy and society, with some jobs being lost and others created. The government’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program will provide new skills training to workers in sectors and communities that may be disrupted by AI.

While the budget only mentions “creative industries” as an affected sector, experts warn that AI could impact a wide range of professions, including marketing, healthcare, law, and accounting. The use of generative AI systems like ChatGPT has raised concerns about job automation, with around 40% of working hours potentially being impacted by AI technology.

Critics argue that $50 million may not be enough to address the scale of the transformation brought about by AI. Some suggest that additional resources, such as basic income support or contributions from AI companies, may be necessary to support workers who lose their jobs to technology.

As the government works to prepare workers for the impact of AI, experts emphasize the importance of developing skills in computational thinking and data analysis. While AI technology is set to bring significant changes to the labor market, experts believe that retraining workers in these areas could help mitigate the impact of job automation.