AI isn’t likely to wipe out all farming jobs – but it is changing who bears the risks

The global economy is experiencing significant disruptions due to the increasing advancement and spread of artificial intelligence (AI) across various industries.
Agriculture is a sector where the tension between AI-driven productivity solutions and potential job displacement is especially pronounced.
AI is introducing new levels of automation that target specific tasks, rather than fully replacing farmers, who still need to interpret and act on AI-generated information.
Research indicates that while AI can provide efficiency gains in agriculture, adoption levels remain uneven, influenced by factors such as farm size, access to capital, and digital connectivity.
There is a fundamental tension between the benefits of AI-assisted decision-making and the risks borne by farmers when technology fails.
The critical issue ahead is determining who bears the risk when AI technologies become integral to farming practices.
For productivity gains to be fully realized and widely accepted, AI systems must not only focus on optimizing outcomes but also consider how these technologies impact the livelihood and responsibilities of those relying on them.