NDC: AI Reshapes Work Patterns as Strategic Solution for Low Birthrate and Aging

(Central News Agency, reporter Pan Tzu-yu, Taipei, 9th) Taiwan entered a super-aged society in 2025, sounding an alarm on its demographic structure and facing a labor shortage crisis. National Development Council (NDC) Minister Yeh Jiunn-shyan stated today that artificial intelligence (AI) is not only a new engine driving economic growth but also a key strategic solution to the challenges of a low birthrate and aging population. "AI will reshape work tasks, not completely replace human jobs."

Minister Yeh attended the APEC International Forum "Shaping the Future of Human Resources in the Asia-Pacific: Leveraging AI to Strengthen the Workforce and Promote Diverse Participation" today. In his speech, he stated that Taiwan views AI as a key solution to demographic changes. Through technological applications such as AI-assisted medical diagnosis, smart long-term care, promoting re-employment of seniors, and mobility aids, it can not only improve the quality of life for the elderly but also fill labor gaps.

However, Minister Yeh pointed out that while AI has the potential to raise wages for some positions, it may also widen the skills gap in the labor market. Facing a new era, all sectors must recognize that AI will reshape work tasks, not completely replace human jobs. Since the impact of AI varies across different occupations and skill requirements, the government must provide better workplace governance norms and forward-looking retraining mechanisms to effectively respond to this wave of AI.

Minister Yeh stated that the government will assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in their digital transformation, adhering to the principle of "leaving no one behind," so that diverse groups including people with disabilities, women, youth, and the elderly can all share the AI dividend, making AI a "human-centric" social infrastructure.

Minister Yeh further pointed out that to seize the opportunities brought by the AI wave, the Taiwanese government is promoting the "New Ten AI Infrastructure Projects." These projects aim to build an industrial ecosystem covering areas such as sovereign AI computing power, quantum technology, robotics, and smart healthcare. The hope is for Taiwan to leap from its key role in global AI hardware manufacturing to becoming a provider of comprehensive AI solutions and a trusted partner for computing power and technology cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

To achieve the above vision, Minister Yeh stated that the government is comprehensively building an AI talent ecosystem. This includes fostering AI literacy from elementary and junior high school levels, nurturing top-tier chip and R&D design elites through industry-academia collaboration, assisting micro, small, and medium enterprises and workers in crossing the digital threshold through subsidies and customized training, and actively cultivating cross-disciplinary talent with both industry expertise and technical skills to truly implement AI applications across various industrial fields. (Editor: Pan Yi-ching) 1150609