The case

Demographic change has been intensifying the labour shortage in Switzerland. As the baby boomer generation is retiring, significantly fewer young people are entering the labour market, so increasing productivity will be crucial in order to safeguard long-term prosperity.

Source: economiesuisse.ch – Text has been greatly abridged.

The commentary

Generative artificial intelligence offers promising opportunities to address this challenge. The technology is based on deep learning models capable of recognising patterns in vast amounts of data and generating new content such as text, images or software codes. Users interact with these systems by means of so-called prompts.

Unlike traditional automation, which primarily replaces physical labour, generative AI mainly supports cognitive tasks such as analysing information, writing or planning. Yet, for the technology to fully realise its productivity potential, several conditions must be met: An innovation-friendly environment, well-designed regulation as well as continuous upskilling and training of the workforce.