Artificial intelligence is not killing jobs, but it is significantly reshaping how they are done. Like previous industrial revolutions, the current wave driven by AI is automating tasks rather than eliminating entire roles. By 2030, as much as 30 per cent of current work hours in the EU and US may be automated, driven largely by advancements in AI technologies.
However, this shift does not affect all professions equally. Jobs requiring high levels of specialization and added value are expected to grow. In contrast, positions centred around repetitive, administrative tasks are likely to decline. The trend is not one of disappearance but of evolution.
A comprehensive international study that analysed half a billion job postings across 15 countries found that industries more exposed to AI have seen nearly fivefold increases in productivity. Additionally, roles demanding AI skills can offer up to 25 per cent higher wages, further underlining the growing value of technological fluency in the job market.
According to a representative survey by the Századvég Foundation, AI adoption is most pronounced among Hungary’s youngest adults. Over 55 per cent of those aged 18–29 use AI-supported tools in work or study, a figure nearly 10 percentage points higher than among 30–39-year-olds, 20 points higher than those aged 40–49, and nearly three times that of the 50–59 group. ChatGPT and browser-based AI solutions are the most commonly used tools.
The study also revealed that AI use is officially permitted in 55 per cent of workplaces, though often without formal regulation. Among university graduates, 63 per cent report using AI at work, compared to just 35 per cent of high school graduates and under 20 per cent of those with only vocational or primary education.
Students are the most active users: three out of four employ AI tools regularly, far surpassing the 35 per cent usage rate among full-time workers. Young employees and students also perceive the greatest time-saving benefits from AI tools.
Interestingly, the education sector appears to be ahead in regulating AI use: 57 per cent of students say their schools have rules in place for AI tools. In comparison, only 35 per cent of full-time workers report similar regulation at their jobs.
The findings suggest a generational and educational divide in AI adoption and underscore the importance of targeted upskilling and clear policy frameworks to harness the potential of artificial intelligence in an equitable and productive way.
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