Ford CEO says AI will reshape office jobs while aiding skilled trades

Ford CEO Jim Farley said Wednesday that the “first inning” of artificial intelligence will change or eliminate some jobs in finance, call centres and entry-level programming, while AI is likely to serve more as a tool for skilled trades workers.

Ford CEO Jim Farley said Wednesday that the “first inning” of artificial intelligence will change or eliminate some jobs in finance, call centres and entry-level programming, while AI is likely to serve more as a tool for skilled trades workers.

Speaking to reporters in Detroit at Ford’s Accelerate the Essential Economy conference, Farley divided the workforce into “information work” and vocational work, saying AI would have different effects on the two categories.

“If you work in finance doing spreadsheets, or you’re in a call center, or you’re an entry-level programmer, those jobs are definitely going to be changed, eliminated with at least this first inning of AI,” Farley said.

By contrast, Farley described AI as more of a “companion” to skilled trades, which include workers who maintain and repair automated equipment and robots.

Ford employs more than 10,000 skilled-trades workers in the United States, representing roughly 20 percent of its 56,000 UAW-represented employees, according to Farley. The workers repair robots, work with software and maintain automated machinery.

Farley said the distinction between manufacturing engineers and hourly skilled-trades workers was becoming “completely blurred” as factories adopt more advanced automation.

He cited increasingly sophisticated manufacturing equipment that requires workers to understand software as well as technical disciplines such as fluid dynamics.

Ford is also developing AI tools to help technicians diagnose and repair vehicles, including a system designed to guide a technician through work on a Super Duty pickup, according to Farley.

The comments came as Ford and its partners highlighted a shortage of skilled-trades workers in the United States. A new report from the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades projects about 1.7 million skilled-trades job openings a year through 2035, while training programs produce about 55 workers for every 100 needed.

The report also found that only about half of people who enroll in skilled-trades training programs complete them, with transportation, childcare and income pressures among the barriers identified.

Ford, BlackRock, Google and Carhartt founded the Alliance in July, and the group announced 14 additional members on Wednesday.

Stanley Black & Decker CEO Chris Nelson said skilled electricians were a constraint on data-centre construction, while his company has developed an autonomous drilling robot for repetitive installation work.

Farley also warned that workers may be reluctant to use AI systems if they fear information collected by the technology could be used against them. He said Ford already uses AI-based vision tools to inspect vehicle panels.

Farley said his earlier experience with time-and-motion studies had shown him how workplace monitoring could create tensions with workers.