TASK 2:
ESSAY INFORMATION:
Written by: IELTS I-Ready, 2/11/2025
Marked by: Ex-BC Examiner
(IELTS Academic – 1/11/2025)
Question: Artificial intelligence is increasingly being applied in various aspects of daily life and professional sectors. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
ANSWER:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being applied in various aspects of modern life, from transportation and education to healthcare and finance. While this development may cause short-term unemployment, I firmly believe that its long-term benefits for productivity and innovation far outweigh these drawbacks.
It is true that the widespread adoption of AI and automation could lead to significant job losses, especially among workers in low-skilled or repetitive occupations. Machines are able to perform tasks such as assembly line work or cash handling with far greater efficiency than humans, which could render many traditional roles obsolete. For example, several large supermarket chains have already replaced human cashiers with self-checkout machines, reducing employment opportunities for young and low-income workers. However, this negative impact is often short-term and can be mitigated through government retraining programmes or a shift towards more knowledge-based occupations.
However, the long-term benefits of automation are far more significant. Firstly, AI can take over dangerous or physically demanding jobs, improving workplace safety and enabling humans to focus on more strategic and creative tasks. This shift not only reduces the risk of injuries in fields like mining and construction but also improves efficiency, as machines can work continuously and allow employees to move into safer, more creative roles. Secondly, automation drives economic growth by increasing productivity and lowering production costs, which can create entirely new industries and high-skilled jobs such as AI engineering and robotics design. For instance, the rapid expansion of the technology sector in countries like the United States and South Korea has generated millions of well-paid positions that did not exist a decade ago.
In conclusion, although the growing use of artificial intelligence and automation may temporarily reduce employment opportunities in certain sectors, I contend that their long-term contribution to work efficiency and economic development makes them a highly positive advancement overall.
