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<\/p>\nIn the business world, the exponential use of artificial intelligence has sparked both hopes of unprecedented productivity \u2014 and fears of job loss.<\/p>\n
According to a recent survey<\/a>\u00a0 by EY, more than two in three employees in Europe are worried that AI will eliminate jobs.<\/p>\n Blunt announcements by prominent European tech companies are doing nothing to help alleviate these concerns.<\/p>\n TNW Conference 2025 – Back to NDSM on June 19-20, 2025 – Save the date!<\/p>\n As we wrapp<\/a>ed up our incredible 2024 edition, we’re pleased to announce our return to Amsterdam NDSM in 2025. Registration now!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n One of those companies is Sweden\u2019s Klarna.<\/span> The buy-now-pay-later unicorn aims to cut almost half of its workforce thanks<\/em> to AI.<\/p>\n In the company\u2019s second quarter results<\/a> on Tuesday, CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski hailed AI\u2019s impact in enabling \u201clower costs,\u201d as Klarna managed to reduce its net loss from a year earlier.<\/p>\n Siemiatkowksi told<\/a> the Financial Times that Klarna could further shrink its workforce with artificial intelligence taking on tasks in marketing and customer service. This translates to about 1,800 fewer employees.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only can we do more with less, but we can do much more with less,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The fintech unicorn implemented an AI-related hiring freeze already in December 2023. A few months later, it stated that its AI chatbot could do the work of 700 human customer service agents.<\/p>\n The fact that AI can fully automate and undertake tasks, while increasing efficiency is (again, for better or for worse) indisputable. But flaunting job displacement isn\u2019t the way to go.<\/p>\n The ethical argument against it is (or at least, it should be) clear: we\u2019re talking about people and their livelihoods.<\/p>\n The focus should also be not on faceless replacement, but on leveraging AI as a force for good in the labour market.<\/p>\n The potential exists, according to experts. And this potential for good is about augmenting jobs, preparing the workforce, and even addressing labour shortages in under-resourced professions.<\/p>\n But to enable a mutually beneficial human\/AI collaboration like that, one requirement is rebuilding employee skills.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s imperative to invest in training, reskilling, and early AI education,\u201d Jaeger Glucina, Chief of Staff at London-based legal AI company Luminance, told TNW in a previous interview.<\/p>\n This is key to ensuring that \u201cboth the current and future workforce are adept at navigating this emerging digital landscape.\u201d<\/p>\n Another requirement is lessening instead of deepening job replacement fears.<\/p>\n The message that AI can usher businesses into a new era is valid \u2014 but the way this message is delivered matters. CEOs would do well to remember that.\u00a0<\/span>\n <\/div>\n If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n