Hun Many: AI Transforms from Tool to Strategic Partner, Impacting Cambodian Jobs

Hun Many, Chairman of the Cambodia 4.0 Center, stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming from a mere auxiliary tool into an indispensable strategic partner across nearly all sectors, significantly impacting job roles. Speaking at the "Cambodia 4.0 Forum 6th Edition" on the "Impact of AI on the Labor Market and the Future of Work," Hun Many emphasized that this evolution is profoundly influencing job roles, skill demands, and work models in various fields. He asserted that as AI exerts a strong influence on work, careful consideration of policy, reform of the education and training system, and timely reskilling and upskilling are crucial to ensure the resilience and competitiveness of Cambodia's workforce. Key insights shared by the Chairman included the continuous promotion of updated curricula and teaching methodologies aligned with technological advancements, emphasis on soft skill development and professional ethics in AI usage, strengthening cooperation between educational institutions, ministries, and the private sector to guide workforce skills, balancing the benefits and innovation derived from AI for productivity enhancement with measures to manage negative impacts, accelerating the preparation and implementation of legal documents and strategies related to AI, promoting AI research and development (R&D), and encouraging citizens, especially youth, to continuously enhance their capabilities to adapt to current and future job market demands. The forum was organized to broaden understanding of AI's impact on the labor market in both global and Cambodian contexts, with approximately 300 participants from ministries, institutions, the private sector, associations, educational institutions, and students attending. The event featured two main presentations: "Global Trends and AI Evolution in the New Era of Work" by a representative from the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, and "Architecture of the New Generation Education System Responding to Changes in the Work Context" by a representative from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. A subsequent panel discussion on "The Workforce in the AI Era: Skills, Flexibility, and Excellence" addressed the changing labor market context in Cambodia, driven by digital technology advancements, particularly AI, leading to shifts in job execution and skill requirements, and the need for policies and support measures to strengthen the Cambodian workforce's capacity and adaptability.