Mandaviya on AI and Job Losses in India: Mansukh Mandaviya, the minister of labour, stated that AI will not result in job losses. In response to a question posed by All India Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee in the Lok Sabha regarding the possibility of AI creating job losses, Mansukh Mandaviya stated that AI will create new job prospects.
“When the internet came about, there was a similar amount of speculation that it would lead to job loss,” he told Parliament. There was similar discussion when computers were first introduced. However, as we know now, this technical progress has only led to greater opportunity. Thus, AI applications will also open up new work opportunities.”
The minister also made fun of Kalyan Banerjee by claiming that West Bengal lacked suitable jobs. He said that people who continue to stage “andolan” (protests) in front of state-owned businesses have to be aware of the effects on employment. He claimed that West Bengal ought to have drawn more businesses and investment given its population.
He added that the country’s unemployment rate has significantly dropped as a result of the Modi government’s actions, and that the labour force participation rate has risen to 44% from 38% in 2017–18.
