Basil Jarrett | AI’s impact on jobs is no longer distant – it’s already here

FOR SOME time now, we have been warned about the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the looming threat it poses to jobs and livelihoods worldwide. Although I wouldn’t consider myself an expert in the field, others with significantly more experience than myself have written blogs, articles and white papers on the topic, while governments and tech billionaires have made grand speeches about AI’s ability to transform work as we know it.

But for many of us, the looming AI threat has always felt like a distant storm. Something that might affect future generations but not our daily lives just yet. In other words, those are problems for our kids to solve one day. Well my friends, that storm is no longer on the horizon. Time to wake those kids up and put them to work.

THE DBS LAYOFF

Last week, Singapore’s largest bank, the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), announced plans to slash 4,000 jobs over the next three years, citing AI as the primary reason. According to its chief executive, Piyush Gupta, the bank has deployed over 800 AI models across 350 different areas of operation, significantly reducing the need for human workers. While DBS will be creating 1,000 new AI-related jobs, that still leaves a net loss of 3,000 positions, with contract and temporary workers bearing the brunt of the cuts.

This development at DBS, and the banking sector on a whole, is just the tip of the iceberg. A Bloomberg Intelligence report warns that global banks alone could cut 200,000 jobs in the next three to five years because of AI advancements. Let that sink in for a minute, just in case you think this is just a problem for Singapore, Europe, or the US.

AI is already changing the landscape of work in Jamaica – we just haven’t fully grasped it yet. More local companies are using AI chatbots instead of hiring customer service agents. Even the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, one of Jamaica’s biggest employers, is starting to feel the heat, with AI automating call centre tasks that once required human workers.

And if AI can replace workers who need to get deeply creative in solving unique problems for customers, what happens to the thousands of Jamaicans working in data entry, law and education?

THE FIRST JOBS TO GO

If the DBS announcement teaches us anything, it’s that AI is not just replacing low-skilled labour, it’s coming for white-collar jobs too. While many people assume that AI will only impact manufacturing or retail jobs, studies suggest that computer-based roles are actually the most at risk. In Jamaica, that means bank tellers and customer service representatives at our biggest companies are at risk. AI-driven chatbots are already handling customer queries, and smart ATMs are reducing the need for tellers.

Then there’s the BPOs and call centres. Jamaica’s BPO industry employs over 60,000 people, but AI-powered chatbots and voice assistants can now handle most routine customer inquiries. Some major BPO players have already scaling back hiring as AI becomes more capable.

Then there are my friends who do legal and administrative work. AI can draft contracts, analyse legal documents, and even provide legal advice faster and cheaper than junior lawyers. Even basic administrative work, like scheduling and record-keeping, is being automated.

And don’t for one minute think that I’m unaware of my vulnerability. Media and content creators should also be worried as AI can write news articles, marketing copy, and social media posts with surprising accuracy.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

So, where does this leave us? Do we resign ourselves to a future where machines take over everything? Not at all. But we do need to wake up. The most dangerous thing we can do is pretend this isn’t happening. AI is not a passing trend. It is fundamentally altering how work is done. And if we want to ensure that Jamaica doesn’t get left behind, we need a strategy.

We need to first and foremost, reassess teaching children for jobs that won’t exist in 10 years. The focus needs to shift from memorisation-based learning to critical thinking, adaptability, and digital skills. AI literacy should be mandatory in schools, and universities need to offer more courses in AI, cybersecurity, and data science.

We also need to start upskilling the workforce. If your job is data-heavy, repetitive, or computer-based, you need to start learning new skills now. AI isn’t replacing everything. There are still fields where human creativity, emotional intelligence, and leadership are irreplaceable. Jobs in AI development, cybersecurity, and human-centred industries (healthcare, counselling, creative arts) will remain valuable. But those in data driven fields should be wary.

AI REGULATION AND POLICY

We will also need clear policies on how AI will impact employment, consumer protection, and misinformation. Additionally, we will need to invest heavily in AI research, create job transition programmes, and partner with the private sector to ensure workers aren’t left behind.

Banning AI won’t help. Trust me. I tried it at home until I found my daughter’s ChatGPT prompt on how to hide AI influenced home work from daddy. Instead, Jamaican businesses need to integrate AI responsibly, ensuring that automation enhances productivity without completely erasing human workers. The trick is not to fight AI, but to work alongside it.

But let’s be real. Not everyone can and will adapt. Some industries will shrink, and some workers will struggle to transition. But ignoring AI won’t make it go away.

DBS’s announcement is just the first of many. More companies will follow, including Jamaican firms. The time to prepare is now, not when layoffs start happening.

And if you still think AI is “far off” from affecting you personally, remember that the next person to lose their job to AI might very well be the one reading this article right now.

Major Basil Jarrett is the director of communications at the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) and crisis communications consultant. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Threads @IamBasilJarrett and linkedin.com/in/basiljarrett and send feedback to columns@gleanrjm.com