Worldwide: A report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), produced in collaboration with Microsoft, highlights the need to prioritise responsible AI adoption to achieve a balanced AI ecosystem.
A Goldman Sachs report estimated that in Europe, 29 per cent of managerial and 34 per cent of professional jobs could be replaced by AI within 10 years. Globally, this could mean 300 million job losses but a seven per cent (or nearly USD $7 trillion) increase in global GDP.
For context, WTTC data shows that pre-pandemic, the global travel and tourism sector accounted for nearly 300 million jobs. To address potential job replacement, the WTTC calls for workers to be trained with AI, and for job transition plans to be put in place for the most affected areas.
The report also highlights that some workers’ unions have called for the regulation of AI in employment practices, for example recruitment and performance reviews.
Julia Simpson, president and CEO, WTTC, said: “AI has come a long way in recent years. Today we can use AI to find personalised holiday ideas at the touch of a button. We can make restaurant queues shorter and reduce hotel food waste. As we cross borders, algorithms can optimise everything from airport traffic, to passenger flow rates. Just imagine how transformative this technology could be at scale, with the ability to spot patterns, make predictions, or fine-tune operations for improved safety and efficiency to levels that were previously unthinkable.
“Companies now hold huge amounts of information. We’re more aware than ever of cyber threats, breaches of privacy, data bias and an alarming gap in digital skills around the world. The unfortunate truth is that AI legislation and digital education has simply failed to keep pace with the rapid development of AI. At present, different systems of governance have emerged in different places, with no global standard yet for the safe and responsible use of AI. That is why we are making sure the voice of travel and tourism is heard – along with other sectors, policymakers, and civil society – as we figure out the answers to these era-defining questions.”
For travel and tourism businesses that are yet to develop an approach to the responsible and ethical use of AI, the WTTC advises the following:
1) Consider a broad range of social and economic factors, and proceed with AI developments where the overall likely benefits substantially exceed the foreseeable risks and downsides.
2) Seek to avoid unjust impacts on people, particularly related to sensitive characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, income, sexual orientation, ability, and political or religious belief.
3) Design AI systems to be appropriately cautious and develop them according to best practices in AI safety research.
4) Create AI systems that provide opportunities for feedback, relevant explanations, and appeal.
5) Ensure opportunities for notice and consent, encourage architectures with privacy safeguards, and provide transparency and control over data use.
6) Collaborate with various stakeholders to promote leadership in AI and responsibly share AI knowledge through educational materials, best practices, and research.
7) Develop and deploy AI technologies in ways that mitigate potential misuse and abuse.
The full report – Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI): Overview of AI Risks, Safety & Governance – can be downloaded here.
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