AI Hasn’t Taken Your Job… Yet: We Still Have a Chance
AI Hasn’t Taken Your Job… Yet: We Still Have a Chance
Let’s not be caught off guard by this process. Chile has everything it takes to lead a fair and intelligent transition toward the future of work. Recently, we’ve seen headlines announcing the massive replacement of workers by Artificial Intelligence (AI). But the data tells a different story. According to The Economist, unemployment in the United States remains low (4.2%) and wages continue to grow, despite the rise of generative AI.
The feared wave of mass layoffs simply hasn’t arrived.
Why is that? AI is very good at automating repetitive and structured tasks, such as basic programming or data analysis, but it cannot replace what makes us human. It cannot exercise the complex judgment of a doctor, the empathy of a teacher, or the creativity of an innovation team. At least, not yet.
For Chile, this represents a unique opportunity. We have a window of time to prepare our workforce and our education system for a world in which living and working alongside AI will be part of everyday life.
This requires much more than programming courses. It requires teaching people to think critically, to collaborate, to lead, and to engage in lifelong learning.
Higher education has a key role to play here. It must not only update its programs but also shape individuals capable of adapting to change, asking the right questions, and making ethical decisions in complex contexts. That is the real competitive edge in the face of automation.
The great challenge is ensuring our public policies keep pace. We need to invest in job retraining, digital literacy, and continuous education, especially in sectors most vulnerable to automation. And we need to act now.
AI hasn’t taken your job… yet. But its impact is already being felt. Let’s not be caught unprepared.
Chile has everything it takes to lead a fair and intelligent transition toward the future of work. The real question is: will we rise to the challenge?
Sergio Mena
President
President of Universidad Gabriela Mistral (UGM), a prestigious institution that offers quality education and fosters creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship among its students and faculty. Sergio has more than 25 years of experience in the higher education sector, as well as in administration and financial management.
As the President of UGM, he leads the university's strategic planning, academic development, and institutional relations, with a focus on excellence, relevance, and social impact. Sergio also serve as a board member of SKY Airline, a leading low-cost airline in Latin America, and of other companies and projects in fields such as banking, biotechnology, education, and gastronomy. He holds an MBA, a Master in Finance, and several diplomas and postgraduate degrees in international business, marketing, and pedagogy. Sergio is passionate about teaching, research, and learning, and he regularly participates as a professor, thesis advisor, and speaker on various topics related to his area of expertise.
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