Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

BT tech chief's horse-car analogy stirs AI job debate

Harmeen Mehta also downplayed the media’s portrayal of AI dangers

BT tech chief's horse-car analogy stirs AI job debate

BT’s technology chief has ignited a contentious debate by drawing a parallel between workers threatened by AI and horses replaced by cars.

The global telecommunications firm's chief digital and innovation officer, Harmeen Mehta described the impact of AI on employment as 'part of evolution'.


"I don't know how horses felt when the car was invented, but they didn't complain that they were put out of a job; they didn't go on strike. Some jobs will change, some new ones will be created, and some will no longer be needed," she was quoted as saying in an interview with Raconteur magazine.

The comparison, made in the context of BT's plan to cut up to 55,000 jobs by 2030, has drawn criticism from union leaders who view it as undermining workers' rights.

According to reports, around one-fifth of the company's employees are expected to be replaced by AI. The technology is slated to be predominantly deployed in the customer service division, a move endorsed by outgoing CEO Philip Jansen, who anticipates significant cost savings.

While Mehta downplayed the media's portrayal of AI dangers, emphasising societal changes and job evolution, she urged individuals to retrain to avoid automation-induced unemployment.

She warned, "Every job that exists today won't exist in exactly the same form in the future. The people who reskill themselves will have jobs, at this company or another, while those who don't might not. That is simply part of the evolution of society."

She added, “The media here is creating a level of paranoia that’s going to paralyse this country – it creates more emotional problems for me than I do for myself. I’ve spent the past two years trying to convince my company that human intelligence and artificial intelligence can work together.”

Mehta's remarks triggered accusations that she was questioning workers' intelligence and diminishing their right to strike.

The Communication Workers Union, representing numerous BT employees, defended the right to strike as a hard-won human right, urging serious discussions on AI that respect workers' concerns and ensure reasonable protection.

A spokesperson for BT Group clarified that Mehta used the metaphor to emphasise a point and highlighted the historical pattern of acquiring new skills and creating new jobs during technological shifts. The company expressed its commitment to enabling skill development as human and artificial intelligence collaboratively shape the future workforce.

Having previously served as the chief information officer at the Indian telecom firm Bharti Airtel, Mehta joined BT in 2021 with the goal of revitalising the digital strategy of the former state monopoly.

More For You

Prudential to list Indian asset management venture

Prudential chief executive Anil Wadhwani

Prudential to list Indian asset management venture

INSURER Prudential plc announced that it is considering a partial listing of its stake in ICICI Prudential Asset Management, one of India's leading investment firms. The news sent Prudential's shares soaring by 5.8 per cent to close at 722p on the London Stock Exchange.

The FTSE 100 company currently holds a 49 per cent stake in the Indian joint venture, which market analysts estimate to be worth around £4 billion. ICICI Bank, which owns the remaining 51 per cent, has confirmed its intention to maintain its majority shareholding, emphasising its "long-term commitment" to the partnership that began in 1998, reported the Times.

Keep ReadingShow less
NatWest-Reuters

The bank has set a new performance target, aiming for a return on tangible equity of 15-16 per cent in 2025 and above 15 per cent by 2027. (Photo: Reuters)

What’s driving NatWest’s better-than-expected profit growth?

NATWEST reported higher-than-expected annual profit on Friday, supported by its growth strategy, improved productivity, and capital management efforts.

The bank, which once had assets worth 2.2 trillion pounds—more than twice the size of the British economy—has undergone years of restructuring to focus mainly on domestic consumer and mortgage lending.

Keep ReadingShow less
London business district
A general view shows the London's financial district from an office window in Canary Wharf. (Photo: Getty Images)

Economy grows 0.1 per cent in fourth quarter, defying expectations

THE UK economy expanded by 0.1 per cent in the final quarter of 2024, contrary to forecasts of a contraction, according to official data released on Thursday.

The growth, supported by a stronger-than-expected 0.4 per cent rise in December, offers some relief to chancellor Rachel Reeves as she navigates broader economic challenges.

Keep ReadingShow less
BP-Reuters

Fourth-quarter profit dropped 61 per cent compared to the previous year, marking BP’s weakest results since Q4 2020, when the pandemic reduced global oil demand. (Photo: Reuters)

BP reports lowest quarterly profit in four years, plans strategy reset

BP reported a quarterly profit of £943 million on Tuesday, falling short of expectations and marking its lowest in four years.

The company said it plans a "fundamental reset" of its strategy, days after reports that Elliott Management had taken a stake in the oil major.

Keep ReadingShow less
Shein-Reuters

Shein had aimed to go public in London in the first half of this year, subject to regulatory approvals in the UK and China. (Photo: Reuters)

Shein cuts valuation to £40 billion for London listing

SHEIN is preparing to lower its valuation to around £40 billion for a potential initial public offering (IPO) in London, according to three Reuters sources familiar with the matter.

This is nearly 25 per cent lower than the company's 2023 fundraising valuation as it faces increasing challenges.

Keep ReadingShow less