Lee calls on workers to swiftly adapt to 'unavoidable' AI robotics era

President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that workers must adapt swiftly to the era of artificial intelligence (AI), in an apparent message to Hyundai Motor's labor union, which has strongly opposed the carmaker's planned introduction of humanoid robots at production facilities. "A labor union appears to have announced that it will stop robots from entering production sites. That may be part of its overall protest strategy," Lee said during a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae. "But once the massive wagon starts rolling, we cannot stop it," Lee said, likening the current situation to the past, when the introduction of steam engines triggered machine-breaking protests by laborers worried about losing jobs. Lee added: "Ultimately, society has to adapt quickly. People need to learn new skills and adjust rapidly to the new environment." The president stressed the importance of preparing workers for technological change rather than resisting it, as AI-driven automation accelerates across industries. He also underscored the need for fundamental policies to prepare for extreme polarizationWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times