Young Liu, the CEO and chairman of Foxconn, recently made a bold prediction about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on low-end manufacturing jobs. Foxconn, known for assembling a majority of iPhones and being the world’s largest contract manufacturer, is at the forefront of technological advancements.
During his keynote address at the Computex conference, Liu highlighted the potential threat of AI and robotics in replacing low-skilled manufacturing jobs. He emphasized that the combination of robotics and generative AI could lead to job losses in the industry.
Liu expressed his belief that as countries become more prosperous, the need for low-GDP work will diminish, with AI and robotics filling the void. He urged leaders of developed countries to closely monitor this transition and its impact on the workforce.
In line with this vision, Foxconn is developing its own manufacturing-centric model called “FoxBrain.” This innovative system will integrate Meta’s Llama 3 and 4 AI models with data from Foxconn’s operations to create specialized workflows for specific applications.
The rise of AI technology has raised concerns among workers across various industries, including IT. Companies like Microsoft and CrowdStrike have recently announced layoffs as they adopt AI to streamline operations and boost efficiency. Language-learning platform Duolingo is also shifting towards AI to handle tasks previously done by contractors.
As the landscape of work evolves with AI integration, it is essential for both companies and policymakers to navigate this transition thoughtfully and ensure that the workforce is adequately prepared for the changing demands of the future.
