AUTOMATION AND THE FUTURE OF EMPLOYMENT IN CHILE: A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE NATIONAL POLICY

Abstract

Th e Chilean Government’s Artifi cial Intelligence National Policy addresses,
among other issues, the impacts that these technologies are likely to have in the workplace.
Its position is techno-optimistic, emphasizing that new jobs will be created and
the country’s productivity will increase, dismissing the possibility that technological
advances could bring serious increases in unemployment. Th is article argues against this techno-optimistic position. We will claim, first (section 2), that the Chilean approach
is based on an implausible premise, namely that the present industrial revolution
is similar to previous ones. We will show five fundamental dimensions that differentiate
the present revolution: speed, transversality, ubiquity, relative-immateriality,
and unpredictability. Then (section 3), we will present diverse scientific evidence that
indicates that a future of high unemployment in Chile due to automation is a possible
scenario that warrants a precautionary stance. With this, we hope to inform the pertinent
institutions, so that policies can be designed aimed at minimizing the potential
negative consequences of these technologies in the workplace.