Tens Of Thousands Of Jobs At Risk Of Automation And AI Replacement In Rhode Island

By Samuel Stebbins, 24/7 Wall St. Providence

February 24, 2023

The U.S. job market is about to enter an era of unprecedented change that could impact tens of millions of workers. As robotics and artificial intelligence technologies continue to advance, companies will be able to leverage new, cost effective tools to create and deliver their products to the market, while reducing their need for workers.

Several media and tech companies, including BuzzFeed and Microsoft, have already stated their intentions to use artificial intelligence to generate content and improve their products. And while BuzzFeed claims that AI will not impact the size of its workforce, the announcement came a month after the company laid off 12% of its employees to cut costs.

The advantages AI can offer businesses is undeniable, and the implications are impossible to ignore. AI is capable of automating a wide range of tasks that, until now, have been performed by humans. But unlike human beings, an AI does not need regular paychecks or breaks. And as AI capabilities continue to develop, virtually no industry will be left untouched. (Here is a look at the fastest growing industries in America.)

According to a recent report from NetVoucherCodes, a U.K.-based voucher code website, automation and AI pose a high risk to 69,650 jobs in Rhode Island in the coming years – or 18.0% of all jobs considered, the 13th smallest share among states.

Distinct from AI, automation – such as the software used in automatic checkout counters or robotics used in manufacturing – poses risk to the largest number of jobs in the coming years. In Rhode Island, automation poses a high risk to 58,990 jobs, compared to 10,660 jobs exposed to risk from AI technology.

Click here to see how many jobs will be impacted by AI and automation in every state.

All data in this story was compiled by NetVoucherCodes. States are ranked on the share of all jobs that are at high risk of being replaced by AI or automation. Notably, NetVoucherCodes used an AI program to aid in its analysis.

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This story was originally published by 24/7 Wall St., a news organization that produces real-time business commentary and data-driven reporting for state and local markets across the country.