ABC News Daily 2025 Picks: Do we need laws to stop AI taking your job?
Dec 31, 2025
Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at the AI Institute at UNSW, dives into the transformative potential of AI for Australia’s economy, suggesting it could add over $100 billion in the next decade. He highlights the risk of job displacement, especially in repetitive and middle-skill roles, and debates whether AI will create more jobs than it destroys. Walsh also discusses the need for balanced regulations to protect workers while fostering innovation, emphasizing the importance of retraining and supporting transitions in this rapidly changing landscape.
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AI Rewrites Which Jobs Are Vulnerable
- AI can perform an increasing amount of people's jobs while still lacking emotional and common-sense intelligence.
- Many routine office tasks like answering calls and graphic design are now easier for machines than physical factory tasks.
History May Not Repeat With AI
- Past technologies created more jobs than they destroyed, but AI may break that pattern by replacing unique human capabilities.
- The net employment outcome is uncertain, though disruption and reskilling are likely.
Negotiate AI Deployment With Workers
- Consult with workers and unions before introducing AI and agree on retraining, job security and data privacy measures.
- Prioritise collaboration between management and employees to manage transitions fairly.