可汗警告：若不受控，AI將摧毀就業機會

AI will destroy jobs if not controlled, Khan warns

Artificial intelligence (AI) could become "a weapon of mass destruction of jobs" if not properly controlled, Sir Sadiq Khan has said.

During his annual speech at Mansion House later, the mayor outlined his concerns about the impact of AI on London's labour market.

He said urgent action was needed to "seize the potential of AI and use it as a superpower for positive transformation and creation" and to prevent "a new era of mass unemployment".

London was "at the sharpest edge of change" because of the "colossal" impact on jobs in key sectors including finance, professional services and the creative industries, he added.

'Mass unemployment'

The mayor said AI could transform public services and tackle complex challenges like cancer care and the climate crisis, but if used recklessly, it could "usher in a new era of mass unemployment, accelerated inequality and an unprecedented concentration of wealth and power".

"We mustn't drift, absentmindedly, into a future we didn't ask for and don't want.

"We need to wake up and make a choice: seize the potential of AI and use it as a superpower for positive transformation and creation, or surrender to it and sit back and watch as it becomes a weapon of mass destruction of jobs."

Polling carried out by City Hall in November found 56% of London workers expect AI to affect their job within the next year.

Sir Sadiq believes that without intervention, roles may disappear faster than new ones are created, with entry-level jobs likely to be the first to go, "robbing our young people of that vital first step on the career ladder".

He also announced a taskforce of experts from government, the skills sector and the AI industry to review the situation and assess how to support Londoners in the future.

Findings from the review are due in the summer, and Sir Sadiq also announced that his office would commission free AI training for all Londoners.

'Duty to act'

The mayor added that "we have a moral, social and economic duty to act" quickly, as research suggests 70% of skills in the average job will change by 2030.

A No 10 spokesperson said it was training 7.5 million workers - a fifth of the UK's entire workforce - with the essential AI skills they need over the coming years.

"In April, we'll be launching new short courses for businesses in areas like AI and digital skills to give people the tools they need for the jobs of the future," they added.

The speech comes amid growing concern over the creation of sexualised deepfake images of women and children using Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot.

X announced on Wednesday it would prevent Grok "editing images of people in revealing clothes" and block users from generating similar images of real people in countries where it is illegal.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]

AI fake nearly led to serious disorder, says Khan

Sharing 'AI drowning' image was joke - politician

https://www.london.gov.uk/

Funding boost for basketball ahead of NBA return

Council tax rise to help police fight phone thefts

Reform UK announces 2028 London mayoral candidate

Man and woman, both 90, die in house fire

A man and woman were found in a burning house in Barnet, north London, in the early hours of Friday.

Wimbledon plan faces dispute over 150-year-old law

The All England Club proposals include 38 new tennis courts and an 8,000‑seat stadium.

Mother of Elon Musk's child sues xAI over Grok deepfakes

The parent company of X and Grok, xAI, launched a counter-suit saying she had violated its terms of service.

How to identify AI-generated videos online

BBC Verify shares tips and tricks on how to spot AI-generated videos circulating online.

New office for AI to 'explore opportunities'

A Manx Office for Artificial Intelligence will empower people to use the technology, its head says.

The BBC is in multiple languages

Copyright 2026 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.