Industries that are considered advanced adopters of AI see the nearest-term labor impact. Over 80% of executives surveyed within tech and media, the only two sectors that showed clear signs of AI disruption, anticipate reduced hiring volumes in the next two years. Still, most companies surveyed are currently backfilling workers with AI, for example, rather than replacing them. By the numbers: For now, companies aren't firing employees but just canceling contracts that involve outsourced labor, a strategy that's leading to financial gains. Back-office automations also have a higher return on investment, with $2 million to $10 million in BPO expenditures eliminated for the firms studied by MIT researchers.
One company studied saved $8 million a year by spending $8,000 on an AI tool.
