The OECD will host its annual International Conference on AI in Work, Innovation, Productivity and Skills on 12–13 December 2024 in Paris.
The conference will bring together global leaders to discuss the transformative effects of artificial intelligence on the workforce.
With AI reshaping sectors, skills, and productivity, the event will focus on evidence-based strategies to help governments maximise opportunities, mitigate risks, and support workers adapting to change.
The conference will feature key sessions on topics such as AI adoption across industries, its impact on workplace demographics, and strategies to integrate AI effectively in public and private employment sectors. The OECD’s Secretary-General, Mathias Cormann, will open the conference alongside Lilian Tschan, Germany’s Permanent State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
A Platform for Global Dialogue
The two-day event will host ten thematic sessions, offering in-depth discussions on:
- The diffusion of AI technologies across various sectors and industries.
- AI’s influence on productivity and workplace dynamics.
- Gender disparities in AI-related roles and experiences.
- Training systems designed to support AI adoption in modern workplaces.
- Lessons from AI incidents to guide future governance and regulation.
In addition to these topics, the conference will address high-stakes challenges such as integrating AI into education systems and exploring links between AI innovation and market competition. All sessions will be livestreamed to ensure global accessibility, with a detailed agenda and a growing list of confirmed speakers available online.
Supporting Workers in the Age of AI
The conference underscores the OECD’s commitment to understanding how AI impacts not only productivity but also the social and economic wellbeing of workers. It aims to provide insights for policymakers to craft effective responses to these challenges, ensuring that technological advancements lead to equitable benefits across sectors, regions, and demographics.
A key highlight of the event is the focus on practical measures to prepare workers and industries for the AI-driven future. Sessions will delve into the role of public employment services in managing AI transitions and the development of agentic AI technologies that prioritise human-centred outcomes. Furthermore, lessons from past AI incidents will be discussed to establish frameworks that balance innovation with accountability.
The conference will also examine the role of competition in shaping AI advancements and explore how educational testing systems are adapting to the AI era, ensuring that learning outcomes remain robust in an increasingly digital world.
