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Responsible_Manner t1_jd1uen7 wrote

Does anyone think this is actually related to emerging AI that can make work more "efficient", requiring fewer humans? It seems likely with all the tech layoffs...but this is never a talking point in media.

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gibberingfool t1_jd2twpa wrote

Way too early for that. It hasn't been operationalized yet. Give it a few more years.

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Responsible_Manner t1_jd4k3g6 wrote

What happens then? Really massive layoffs?

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gibberingfool t1_jd4ppn9 wrote

We don't really know. Less people will be needed to do the same or more amount of work, but I don't think it will outright eliminate large swaths of jobs. I think it will be a mixture of:

  • Some jobs will completely reduce in number or disappear completely (think travel agents after the Internet)
  • Many jobs will be able to use workers who have learned how to use AI to do their jobs more effectively, thereby squeezing more productivity out of the same amount of workers (which would result potentially in reduced hiring)
  • New categories of jobs we can't even think of will be created

I think in the long term, we will adapt. There is no shortage of work to be done. In the short term, there will be a lot of pain and insecurity, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable.

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