Artificial intelligence is poised to transform societies deeply, but it also carries a real risk of job losses and the aggravation of social and economic divides.
UN experts are working to support this transition so that the benefits of the technology outweigh its threats. Whether one is “alarmist” or “optimist” about the issue, it is impossible to ignore AI, which is now infiltrating all aspects of personal and professional life.
For a human-centered approach
For several years, the UN has been insistently urging a human-centered approach to AI.
As early as 2024, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, warned the Security Council: the fate of humanity “must never be left to the black box of an algorithm” and humans must always retain supervision and control of decisions taken by AI, in order to guarantee the respect for human rights.
Since then, the United Nations system has strengthened its work on the global ethical governance of artificial intelligence, notably drawing on the guidance and recommendations of the Global Digital Compact.
Thus, the UN consistently underscores the central role of education to enable individuals to stay relevant in an AI-shaped future. It is not only about introducing AI tools into educational systems, but ensuring that both students and teachers are “AI-literate.”
“The global education system will need 44 million teachers by 2030,” explains Shafika Isaacs, head of the Technology and AI in Education division at UNESCO, the United Nations agency for education, science and culture.
Profound Changes
“We think it is erroneous to argue that more investment should be placed in AI technologies rather than in teachers. AI can manage data transfer, but it cannot accompany human development. Education is fundamentally a social, human and cultural experience, not simply a technical download,” she says.
Around the world, many people fear losing their jobs in the AI era. In 2025, the World Economic Forum estimated that 41% of employers planned to reduce their staff due to artificial intelligence.
At the same time, new jobs are expected to emerge, combining the capabilities of machines with human skills. If machines excel at pattern recognition and performing repetitive tasks, creativity, judgment, ethical reasoning and complex human interactions remain the preserve of humans.
In collaboration with international research partners, the International Labour Organization (ILO) predicts that one in four jobs will be transformed by AI – without necessarily implying net job losses.
Nevertheless, the way of working is expected to evolve significantly, requiring workers to have a high degree of adaptability and a willingness to continuously acquire new skills throughout their professional life.
