阅读以下段落，回答问题：
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked debates about its impact on employment. Proponents argue that AI-driven automation will eliminate repetitive tasks, freeing humans to focus on creative and strategic roles. They cite historical precedents, such as the Industrial Revolution, where technological advancements ultimately created more jobs than they destroyed. However, critics caution that the current wave of AI differs significantly. Unlike past innovations that complemented human labor, AI systems are increasingly capable of replacing cognitive tasks traditionally performed by white-collar workers2. For instance, AI-powered algorithms can now analyze legal documents, diagnose medical conditions, and even generate content that rivals human creativity. This shift, they argue, could lead to a “jobless future” where workers lack the skills to compete with machines.
The passage suggests that the author’s attitude toward AI’s impact on employment is:
A. Unreservedly optimistic
B. Strongly critical
C. Guardedly neutral
D. Ambiguously pessimistic
解析：
本题考查对作者态度的推理判断。关键在于识别文中对比逻辑和隐含立场。
- 作者先引用支持者观点（AI 创造新岗位），但通过 “However” 转折引入批评者观点（AI 取代白领工作），并以具体案例（法律、医疗、内容创作）强化后者的合理性2。
- 选项 C “Guardedly neutral”（谨慎中立）符合文中平衡呈现双方观点的结构，但需注意作者未直接表态，仅客观描述争议，避免绝对化表述。
- 干扰项 A（乐观）和 B（批判）均片面，D（模糊悲观）缺乏依据，因文中未流露情感倾向，仅强调分歧34