London Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned that the United Kingdom’s capital could face widespread job losses if artificial intelligence is not properly managed.
Khan raised the concern on Thursday, saying London risks entering “an era of mass unemployment” as AI continues to reshape workplaces.
His comments are expected to feature in a speech later on Thursday, where he will outline both the dangers and opportunities linked to the fast growth of artificial intelligence.
According to excerpts of the speech released to the media, Khan said London is “at the sharpest edge of change” because of its heavy concentration of finance, professional services and creative jobs.
While sounding the alarm, the mayor also acknowledged that AI holds “huge potential benefits” if used responsibly.
He is set to unveil a review into how artificial intelligence could affect jobs in the capital, alongside plans for free AI training aimed at millions of London residents.
Khan is expected to urge urgent action, warning that the technology must be guided carefully before it “becomes a weapon of mass destruction of jobs”.
The impact of AI on employment remains a subject of global debate, with experts divided on whether it will destroy more jobs than it creates.
The office of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also weighed in on Thursday, saying artificial intelligence would significantly change how people work.
A Downing Street spokesperson said, “AI is going to reshape the world of work.”
The spokesperson added, “Some jobs will be more impacted than others, but the new roles and opportunities it will create is something that we will embrace.”
The United Nations has also warned that AI and automation could worsen labour market challenges worldwide, especially for educated young people in developed countries searching for high-skilled jobs.
Several forecasts predict gradual changes rather than sudden collapse. Management consultancy McKinsey has estimated that about 30 per cent of jobs in the United States could be automated by 2030, with 60 per cent undergoing major changes.
However, analysts at US research firm Gartner have suggested that artificial intelligence could create more jobs than it eliminates by 2027.
