If AI is the future of work, low income workers must be part of the plan.

Discussions about AI’s impact on the workforce tend to focus on what the new technology will mean for white-collar workers, many with higher incomes. But new research by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco shifts the conversation by examining on-the-job exposure to AI among lower income workers. AI isn’t just a story about high-earning knowledge workers. It’s also reshaping the jobs of low-income workers. If we want AI to expand economic opportunity rather than narrow it, understanding how AI could impact lower-income workers matters. Lower-income workers, particularly those in roles that require people to be physically engaged, might be able to utilize AI in a way that improves the quality of their job. However, many low-income workers face challenges that could make it harder to adapt to AI without better resources and support.