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Or sign-in if you have an account.The IMF estimated in 2024 that more than two-thirds of British workers perform tasks that AI could potentially carry out. Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty ImagesLONDON — When a client asked her a year ago to design a glossary to train an artificial intelligence system, translator Jessica Spengler realized she was going to train her own replacement.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Accountor“That was the day I really thought… my job is going,” said the 52-year-old, who translates into English for German educational and historical organizations.In the U.K., where services account for around 80 per cent of the economy, AI has become flexible, fast and inexpensive competition for many white-collar workers, with the impacts beginning to emerge.The IMF estimated in 2024 that more than two-thirds of British workers perform tasks that AI could potentially carry out, making the country more exposed than many other advanced economies.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“Some publishers have offered me lower rates than I was getting 10 years ago,” the Brighton-based Spengler told AFP, adding that she no longer receives requests to translate corporate press releases or user manuals, typically an “entry point” into the profession.Instead, she is increasingly offered work proofreading machine-generated translations.Translators “have to rewrite the whole thing, redo the translations, but they still only get paid the reduced rate,” said Holly Parsons, a Spanish-to-English translator at the beginning of her career.“It’s hard as a translator to actually charge what the work is worth because people just don’t want to pay it,” the 24-year-old added.She still earns most of her income working as a children’s activity leader.According to a report from Morgan Stanley, British companies that adopted AI cut their workforces by eight percent in the year to October 2025 — more than in Germany, Japan or Australia.Among the countries featured in the report, only the United States saw employment rise with AI.“Film work has definitely been impacted by AI… it’s really kicked us down,” said Laura, 35, a director of photography in London, who preferred not to share her last name for professional reasons.To escape the broader crisis hitting the film industry, she is retraining as an outdoor instructor in Dorset, southwest England, earning minimum wage.After working on the short film “Mad Bills to Pay”, which won an award at the Sundance Film Festival, 35-year-old Rufai Ajala also changed direction and is now training to become a plumber.“I’m not going to rely on film as my main focus… I don’t see it as a career option anymore where you can have stability,” Ajala said, adding that the aim was to find an “AI-proof” career.“There is going to be sort of a painful transition process because new jobs will take time to emerge,” said Bouke Klein Teeselink, an economics professor at King’s College London.He said it would require “a massive adjustment for society,” which could mean “a big increase in unemployment.”According to one of his studies, professions most exposed to AI, such as software developers and data analysts, reduced job postings after the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, particularly for entry-level positions.The growth of AI comes as Britain already faces high levels of youth unemployment, with the war in the Middle East and an increased minimum wage weighing on hiring.One in six Britons aged 16 to 24 is out of work, the highest level since 2014, according to official data.Teeselink said, however, that another market dynamic is at play with AI: productivity gains could lead to lower prices, which in turn could stimulate demand and increase employment.He said the U.K. was “reasonably well positioned” for the AI transition thanks to its high-quality universities, which are set to play a crucial role in “upskilling young people to use AI well.”Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. 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