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What industrial revolutions actually change — and what they don't

Concerns about artificial intelligence displacing workers have resurfaced with fresh intensity. A large bank has publicly announced plans to cut tens of thousands of jobs in the coming years, citing AI. This column examined unemployment rates during past industrial revolutions a quarter ago and found no meaningful disruption. But if employment does come under pressure this time, will the broader economy deteriorate? And if, as history suggests, employment remains resilient, will AI instead prove an economic tailwind?

KC Law (Economist)

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KC Law (Economist)

Law Ka Chung is a Hong Kong economist and financial columnist.

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