2022-06-23

Artificial Intelligence and the World of Work in Serbia debate

Centre Dialogue – Social Forum

On 23 June 2022, in cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the Center for Democracy Foundation organised a debate entitled Artificial Intelligence and the World of Work in Serbia.

Introductory speakers at the debate were: Ljubica Ilić Vojnović, Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Department of Technological Development, the Transfer of Tehnologies and Innovation Systems; Vladimir Lalošević, Serbian Association of Employers, President of the Union of Employers of Vojvodina; Branka Anđelković, Public Policy Research Centre; Darko Božičić, Assistant at the Faculty of Law of Novi Sad; Tijana Nikolić, Artificial Intelligence Specialist at Sogeti, Netherlands. The discussion was moderated by Petrica Đaković, journalist.

AI, as a fast-growing area, is bringing with it big changes globally, is becoming an ever more important topic in Serbia as well. The state has adopted the Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in the Republic of Serbia for the period 2020-2025 and has established a National Platform for the Development of Artificial Intelligence and an R&D Artificial Intelligence Institute. In addition to the extensive impact on the education system and science and research community, the development of AI will undoubtedly reflect on the economy and the world of labour.

Is Serbia ready to use AI to facilitate economic growth, employment and to improve the quality of life of its people? Do we have a solid legislative framework to be able to do this? How is the education system preparing the experts the labour market will require relative to professions tied to AI or those professions that will change under its influence? To what extent is the economy successfully adapting to new and innovative business models? How do the trade unions view the inevitable changes coming in terms of working positions, those that will cease to exist and those brand-new positions that are yet to be invented? What position and rights do digital workers in Serbia hold? Is enough attention being paid to issues concerning safety and ethical issues imposed by the fast-paced development and application of AI, bearing in mind the significance of personal data protection.

We sought possible answers to these and other open-ended questions which were posed by the participants and media representatives, through a constructive discussion held during the Artificial Intelligence and the World of Work in Serbia debate.

The conclusion drawn during the debate was that AI has the potential to completely transform society and the way we view the world. The swift social changes, resulting from the development of new technologies in the 21^st century, are unprecedented in human history. New technologies have the potential to completely change the way all of society will function in just a couple of years. This includes traffic, market conditions, communication which may create new needs and lifestyle. AI cannot be viewed as a phenomenon just at the regional level, it is necessary to include global trends, which are constantly changing and developing. Many countries recognise the need to define an overall action plan and strategic and legislative frameworks to formulate clearly defined AI development goals.

Given that man’s resources are limited, AI may contribute to societal development, improving labour and work environments. At the same time, trade unions fear that increasing the use of AI will lead to a decline in the need for a human workforce. However, Serbia has a negative birth rate, it’s ‘brain drain’ rate is high, especially among the highly qualified, which is why it is necessary to change the education system from nursery school upward. We need to educate children that will be able to fill positions that have yet to be created. A new AI business model called ‘algorithmic management’ has been apostrophised, which presents a new way of intersecting major topics.

Other important issues imposed by the rapid development and application of AI concern the area of safety and ethics, given, in particular, the significance of protecting the personal data of the public. Ethical guidelines are currently being prepared in Serbia, which will serve to regulate what it is that will help to ensure that the application of AI is in line with constitutional provisions, respecting the individual and society. It is important that AI be used for the good of humanity. It is necessary to maintain human autonomy and to keep the human being as the central figure.

We organised the following debate in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation – Centre Dialogue – Social Forum.