SESRIC hosted the third session of the SESRIC Talks series under the theme “Mind the AI Gap: Shaping the Future-Ready Work.” The event brough together experts to discuss the development and implementation disparities of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, while exploring different strategies to ensure equitable opportunities.

The session served as a platform to explore key dimensions of AI, including ethical concerns, its impact on labour markets, and the growing digital divide between developed and developing countries.

This edition of SESRIC Talks hosted H.E. Yasser Ahmed HASSAN, Director of the ILO Office for Türkiye, and Ms. Federica Irene FALOMI, Head of Programme at the UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries. They examined the multifaceted effects of AI on labour markets – ranging from job quantity and quality to structural transformation.

The event commenced with a live survey on AI usage patterns. Results showed that 85% of participants were familiar with AI tools, and 88% had used them. Among the respondents, 79% expressed a positive view of AI in daily life. However, 81% also reported concerns about the ethical implications of AI systems.

H.E. HASSAN highlighted the challenges and opportunities that AI presents in the workforce. While acknowledging the risk of job losses, he emphasized that these can be mitigated through collective governance and policy development, indicating that sectors like administration, manufacturing, retail, and healthcare are among the most vulnerable. He also noted that 55% of future jobs are undefined, underscoring the need for upskilling and reskilling with a particular emphasis on the importance of lifelong learning. He also warned that the lack of AI policies in most Least Developed Countries (LDCs) could deepen the development gap.

Ms. Federica Irene FALOMI highlighted the impact of AI on economic and social development, emphasizing the need for OIC countries to improve infrastructure for AI adoption. She discussed both the positive potential of AI, including job creation and productivity growth, as well as its potential risks, such as job losses and lower labour participation. Ms. FALOMI stressed that LDCs must not be excluded from digitalization, as it could result in lost growth and high costs. She called for investment in STEM education, lifelong learning, and soft skills, as well as national technology innovation strategies and government incentives. She noted that only 6 out of 44 LDCs have national AI policy, potentially widening the developmental gap. Additionally, she highlighted the challenges LDCs face in accessing data and reskilling workers, particularly in the large informal employment sector.

The event concluded with an engaging exchange of questions and remarks from participants, offering valuable insights to the discussion, followed by a valuable networking opportunity among participants.

The SESRIC Talks series is a new initiative launched in 2025, that hosts distinguished experts from various fields at the SESRIC’s Al-Aqsa Library. This platform facilitates knowledge exchange on a wide range of topics, engaging audiences with different backgrounds and bringing together representatives of the missions of OIC countries, as well as International Organisations and foreign student associations in Ankara.

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