Karen Jeffrey
@karenojeffrey.bsky.social
490 followers 520 following 16 posts
AI, labour markets, & policy responses PhD in #PoliticalEconomy, King's College London Postdoc in #MedicalInformatics, University of Edinburgh karenjeffrey.github.io
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karenojeffrey.bsky.social
Fascinating piece on usage of different AI assistants + a warning: ⚠️ "If you slip into just asking it to do [all your thinking] every time, it’s going to be very hard to get out of.” ⚠️ ig.ft.com/ai-personal-... @data.ft.com @financialtimes.com
How AI became our personal assistant
New data shows the ways millions have integrated the technology into their everyday lives
ig.ft.com
karenojeffrey.bsky.social
🔬Radiology looks like THE job #AI should replace - involving image recognition, standardised tasks, & huge salaries ($520k avg).

But human radiologists are busier than ever due to messy training data, liability risk, and elastic demand.

Does the same apply to other occupations, and will it last?
tobyord.bsky.social
An insightful piece by Deena Mousa about how AI performs extremely well at benchmarks for reading medical scans, yet isn't putting radiologists out of work. Lots to learn for other knowledge-work professions here.
www.worksinprogress.news/p/why-ai-isn...
AI isn't replacing radiologists
Radiology combines digital images, clear benchmarks, and repeatable tasks. But demand for human radiologists is ay an all-time high.
www.worksinprogress.news
karenojeffrey.bsky.social
More than a hint of irony here? The FT pessimistic about the potential business benefits of AI, based on analysis by the FT... done using AI.

Seems hasty to write off AI due to little impact on the bottom line so far. Chat GPT was released less than 3 years ago. Change takes time on.ft.com/4ngEbKW
America’s top companies keep talking about AI — but can’t explain the upsides
FT analysis of hundreds of filings suggest the S&P 500 businesses are clearer about the risks than benefits
on.ft.com
karenojeffrey.bsky.social
Zoom's CEOs predicts a 3-day work week is coming, thanks to AI.

I’d love to see it, but it’s hard to imagine such a dramatic shift.

Though the CEO of Zoom must know a thing or two about radical and unexpected changes in the way we work... 😜

fortune.com/2025/09/15/z...
Zoom’s CEO agrees with Bill Gates, Jensen Huang, and Jamie Dimon: A 3-day workweek is coming soon thanks to AI | Fortune
Zoom leader Eric Yuan admits that the technology will erase some human jobs—but those who keep their jobs will enjoy fewer working days.
fortune.com
karenojeffrey.bsky.social
💭When AI automates, firms may prefer to avoid hiring new entrants than to let existing staff go 🤔

My take on @erikbryn.bsky.social & @stanfordhai.bsky.social's finding that younger workers are hit hardest by AI

#AIandWork #FutureOfWork
🔗 bit.ly/4nl6G9W
Reposted by Karen Jeffrey
karenojeffrey.bsky.social
The ever candid, Geoff Hinton "...people are going to use AI to replace workers. It’s going to create massive unemployment and a huge rise in profits. It will make a few people much richer and most people poorer. That’s not AI’s fault, that is the capitalist system.” on.ft.com/4niqU4h
Computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton: ‘AI will make a few people much richer and most people poorer’
The ‘godfather of artificial intelligence’ on ‘the only hope’ for humanity, why China has an advantage — and when machines will outstrip us
on.ft.com
karenojeffrey.bsky.social
Agree - it's a fiendishly tough puzzle. Diff-in-diff on outcomes for workers more and less exposed to automation seems like a promising approach (assuming parallel trends hold) as per Humlum & Vestergaard www.nber.org/papers/w33777 Would love to hear any thoughts on this.
Large Language Models, Small Labor Market Effects
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
www.nber.org
karenojeffrey.bsky.social
4-day week is often suggested as a response to AI-induced disruption. Great to get an indication of how it works in actuality.

"The experience of the Netherlands suggests that a 4-day week isn’t nirvana. But nor is it a fast-track ticket to economic ruin." on.ft.com/47fRruq @sarahoconnorft.ft.com
The Dutch are quietly shifting towards a four-day work week
The Netherlands serves as a case study for the advantages and trade-offs of reduced hours in the workplace
on.ft.com
Reposted by Karen Jeffrey
cfcamerer.bsky.social
“Under an agreement between employers, unions and the government, workers can take time off from their jobs to train in something new, while being paid 80% of their salary…
The policy is in keeping with the Swedish approach to labour market disruption, which is to “protect people, not jobs”.
karenojeffrey.bsky.social
This is a crucial point that researchers must consider when using metrics that show 'how amenable a task is to AI' to estimate AI's economic implications.
Reposted by Karen Jeffrey
adalovelaceinst.bsky.social
📣Job alert (no. 2)!

We are looking for a strategic, curious and well-connected Head of EU and Global AI Governance to lead our international policy work from our Brussels base.

Closing: 9:30am BST, Monday 8 September 2025.

www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/job/head-of-...
Head of EU and Global AI Governance
The Ada Lovelace Institute is recruiting a Head of EU and Global AI Governance to lead our EU and international policy work.
www.adalovelaceinstitute.org
karenojeffrey.bsky.social
Key question from @laszlobock.bsky.social: "whether AI’s productivity benefits [will be] claimed by capital — feeding through to bigger profits or higher executive pay — or shared with labour, in the form, say, of shorter working hours or higher salaries" on.ft.com/41cuDrw @andrewtghill.ft.com
Does HR still need humans?
AI can perform many of the duties of human resources staff, a symbol of how it is changing companies and the nature of work
on.ft.com