The attitude of university graduates in Altai Krai (Russia) towards the implementation of artificial intelligence in the field of labor

The article examines the attitude of university graduates from the Altai region (Russia) towards the implementation of artificial intelligence in the labor market, focusing on the concerns of graduates related to the potential displacement of young specialists from entry-level positions across various sectors of economic activity. Such concerns are not unfounded, as media periodically reports instances where specific numbers of employees in international firms have been laid off and replaced by artificial intelligence. The article also identifies common features of graduates' attitudes in the Altai Krai towards the practices of implementing artificial intelligence in human life. Undoubtedly, the labor market has significantly changed with the introduction of artificial intelligence, and young specialists and university graduates need to be prepared for such transformations. The methodological framework of the study is based on a combination of the institutional approach and structural functionalism. The research methodology relied on expert interviews and a questionnaire survey of university graduates from the Altai Krai. The sample consisted of 314 respondents, of which 300 were participants in the questionnaire survey (university graduates), and 14 were representatives of the expert survey. In this context, it is important to comprehend what artificial intelligence brings to the labor market—substantial opportunities or real danger for young specialists in terms of job scarcity. The data obtained allowed for a comprehensive characterization of the attitudes of university graduates from the Altai Krai towards the implementation of artificial intelligence in the labor sector, revealing the main concerns and expectations of contemporary youth. Further research in this area is important and significant since artificial intelligence is just beginning to integrate into the domestic labor market, and its influence will only increase over time, consequently altering the overall attitude of representatives from various social groups towards this social phenomenon—the implementation of artificial intelligence in the labor sphere.