AI is a tool, not a threat

As the world stands in a time of unprecedented technological change, Trinidad and Tobago must focus less on fearing artificial intelligence (AI) and more on designing a society that ensures technology benefits everyone.

That was the message from American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) CEO Nirad Tewarie during an interview marking Labour Day, where he reflected on the future of work, the role of trade unions and the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies.

Tewarie cautioned against viewing AI as an either-or proposition—where workers either keep their jobs or lose them to machines. Instead, he said history shows that society has repeatedly adapted to technological revolutions.

“We are supposedly in the fourth industrial revolution, and the fourth industrial revolution is characterised by the speed of change and the speed of technological advancement,” he said.

Drawing comparisons with earlier technological shifts—from the plough to the steam engine and the automobile—Tewarie noted that every innovation has been accompanied by fears of mass unemployment.

“All along there was a fear that there are no jobs,” he said. However, he believes the current moment is unique because of the pace of change and because AI is only one part of an even larger technological transformation.

“We’re on the cusp not only of AI; we’re on the cusp of quantum computing, which will revolutionise—make AI look like dial-up internet,” he said.

While acknowledging concerns surrounding technologies such as quantum computing, including cybersecurity risks, Tewarie stressed that technological tools themselves are neither inherently good nor bad.

“AI, quantum computing, the internet—all of these things are tools, just like fire is a tool. Fire is neither good nor bad, but it could burn down a house, or it could help us cook.”

The more pressing question, he suggested, is what kind of society people want to build. “How do we as a society want to organise ourselves? Do we want to organise ourselves in such a way that we are able to take care of the most vulnerable?”

If societies first determine the values and outcomes they want to achieve, then technology can be used to support those goals, he argued.

“If we set those goals, then we design the systems and use the tools to make those systems achieve the objectives that we want.”

Creating meaningful work

Tewarie acknowledged that some jobs will inevitably disappear as AI becomes more sophisticated. “Yes, some jobs will not be necessary for humans to do in well-functioning economies,” he said.

But rather than seeing this as a cause for despair, he believes societies should focus on creating new forms of meaningful employment.

“If we design our societies properly, we’re going to create other meaningful work.”

This approach aligns closely with the broader goals of labour movements around the world. According to Tewarie, the objective of Labour Day and labour advocacy has never simply been about employment, but about “decent work”. “The goal of the tripartite discussions is not for work. It’s for decent work,” he said.

In practical terms, he explained, decent work means that people are safe, enjoy comfortable working conditions, have economic choices, and can earn a living that allows them to improve their circumstances over time.

Trade unions still have a vital role

Despite the rapid advance of technology, Tewarie believes trade unions remain essential. There must be a role for trade unions, he said emphatically.

Unlike some business leaders who see organised labour as an adversary, Tewarie described trade unions as indispensable partners in maintaining balance within society.

“I am not one of those business leaders who sees the trade unions as adversaries. I think that the trade unions are partners.”

He explained that every economic system requires checks and balances, with business organisations, government and labour each representing different interests.

“You need chambers of commerce to look out for the interests of business, you need government to regulate and manage and set policy, and you need the trade unions to ensure that… the people who are doing the work and are supposed to benefit from this economic structure are able to benefit.”

Tewarie expressed hope that government, business and labour could once again strengthen the spirit of tripartism by focusing on areas of common ground. “Let’s not focus on the two things on which we disagree… but focus on the wins for the ten things that we agree on.”

Adapting to a changing world

The AmCham CEO also noted that some unions are already adapting to changing economic realities. Pointing to initiatives by the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), he said some labour organisations are moving into new business ventures and exploring different models of economic engagement.

“I think the unions themselves realise that the world is changing. And there are some pivots that they have to make.”

Ultimately, Tewarie believes that technology should never be viewed as a substitute for people, but rather as a tool that can help create more prosperous and equitable societies—provided that leaders make intentional choices about how it is used.

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