SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - Kookmin University International Business School (KIBS)'s Professor Oh Eun-young has published two research papers analyzing the varying impacts of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on industrial productivity and occupational replacement in South Korea, Kookmin University said Wednesday.
The studies, published in international academic journals in February and June, examine how the adoption of AI technologies affects different sectors and how the public perceives the threat of job displacement. The research indicates that the effects of generative AI are determined by industrial structures and job characteristics rather than applying uniformly across the economy.
The first paper analyzed productivity changes following the spread of generative AI. The research found that early productivity gains were concentrated in finance, information and communications, and professional services. In contrast, the manufacturing sector experienced limited changes, suggesting that the initial economic benefits of AI are more prominent in specific service-oriented industries.
The second paper assessed public perceptions of job replacement by AI tools like ChatGPT. The survey indicated that South Koreans believe translators, data scientists, and financial advisors face a high likelihood of replacement. Meanwhile, professions such as professors, researchers, and writers were viewed as less vulnerable to AI substitution. The study also noted that older individuals experience greater overall job anxiety related to the technology.
"Generative AI is an important technology that can increase productivity across the economy, but its effects do not appear equally in all industries and professions," Oh said. "In order to spread the benefits of AI technology more widely and respond to changes in the labor market, policy discussions that consider the characteristics of each industry and profession are necessary."
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