🧑💻 3x AI Job Growth. 5.8B Ton Agricultural Emissions. Substance Usage.
Chart of the Day #99 looks at AI Jobs, Agricultural Carbon Emissions, and Substance Usage
The 2024 Work Trend Index from Microsoft and LinkedIn indicates a positive outlook on AI adoption among India's workforce, with 92% actively using it and AI proficiency becoming a key hiring priority. Scientists have discovered a method to recycle cement from demolished concrete buildings. Cement is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions; recycling it would substantially reduce its carbon footprint.
Today's Topics
🧑💻 AI Workforce. 3x increase in new AI jobs in the US
💨 Carbon Emissions. 5.8B ton carbon emissions from agriculture
🍷 Substance Usage. Alcohol and cannabis usage most prominent among US college students
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🧑💻 3x Increase in New AI Jobs in the US
A significant growth in the number of new artificial intelligence (AI) jobs in the United States was seen in 2021, where new AI jobs reached over 26,000. This declined to 14,000 in 2024, which coincides with the decline in global corporate investment in AI from 2022. Despite the fall, AI’s ability to bridge the skills gap between highly skilled and low-skilled workers and improve productivity has resulted in considerable growth opportunities and increased global private investment in AI, reaching $93.5 billion in 2022. The Chinese government expects AI to generate $154.6 billion in annual revenue by 2030, demonstrating the potential of AI and its ability to automate tasks, provide data-driven insights, improve training experiences, and transform job roles to drive innovation and efficiency.
As AI integration continues across various sectors, regulatory frameworks are being developed to address potential risks and ensure responsible development. The European Union has proposed the AI Act, aiming to address the risks of AI systems, while the United States released a report that called for improved transparency and accountability.
💨 5.8B Ton Carbon Emissions From Agriculture
Global carbon emissions from agriculture have increased to alarming levels, reaching 5.8 billion metric tons in 2020. This constitutes a significant portion, accounting for 17% of total global emissions, reflecting the profound impact of our food systems on the environment. The sources of these emissions include livestock and fisheries, crop production, land use, and supply chains.
One of the primary drivers behind this increase is the combined effect of growing populations and shifting dietary preferences. As more people populate the planet and adopt more resource-intensive diets, such as those rich in animal products, the demand for agricultural products rises, leading to heightened emissions.
Notably, China and India stand out as major contributors, collectively responsible for nearly 1.7 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, which accounts for 15% of the global agricultural emissions as of 2022. Africa’s contribution to global emissions from agriculture was around 22% in 2019. Being a region with an expanding population, food demand can be expected to grow, necessitating the need to curtail emissions.
🍷 Alcohol and Cannabis Usage Most Prominent Among US College Students
A survey revealed that alcoholic beverages are the primary substance of choice among college students in the US, with nearly 70% of students reporting consumption. Cannabis ranks second with a reported usage of 38%. More women report using alcohol and cannabis than men by margins of 6% and 3%, respectively. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that for the first time in history, women are binge drinking more than men, and a new report by Harvard University researchers shows that female college students exceed government-suggested weekly alcohol consumption limits more often than male students do.
Nicotine ranks third, with around 30% of students reporting usage, and men showing higher usage than women. Hallucinogens, pills, and other hard substances make up the remaining rankings, with transgender/gender non-conforming individuals reporting equal or higher usage in all categories compared to men or women. College students often face high levels of stress related to academic performance, social life, and familial concerns which may lead them to turn to various substances as a way of coping or managing negative emotions. Providing mental health services thus becomes paramount for colleges to support their students effectively.
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