We can choose to make it more equal. We can choose to even things, and to work less.
It’s us using the AI to do things.
Let’s stop pretending like our hands are tied. We can build a better world if we want to. Don’t give me excuses about how everyone else will do something so then you have to do the same.
Take responsibility for your own actions.
Don’t fire people that you can replace with AI. Instead, re-train them to use AI to make your business better and for everyone to work less.
Be creative, be visionary, be disruptive and be compassionate. Care about people over money.
Mother Theresa said: “if you want to change the world, go home and love your family”
Maybe this time, if you want to change the world, don’t replace people with AI. Do replace their work, but keep the people and find them something more human to work on.
Yes it is us, but individual action is not the solution. Mother Theresa helped a bunch of people, you'll notice she absolutely did not change the world.
What we need is universal healthcare and universal basic income. For everybody to recognize that every human being deserves the resources to live and share in the wealth that AI has created.
> Do replace their work, but keep the people and find them something more human to work on.
What's more human than writing, or making art? The sad reality is if AI is as disruptive as some claim and a company follows your advice:
a) The employees will end up doing the menial tasks that AI still can't.
b) Their competitors will either buy them up or drive them out of business by being more ruthless about how they apply automation.
There's no "bottom-up" market solution that will work in the long term here. In my opinion the only thing that can lead to a more equal distribution of resources has to come in the form of more redistributive taxation and more stringent labor laws - i.e. "top down" from the government. Unfortunately, legislators seem to be moving in the opposite direction on some of these fronts. I think more social unrest is inevitable until things are forced to change.
Why can't they take responsibility for their own actions, and train themselves to use AI?
Everyone knows about the disruptive potential of AI now, it's not a secret anymore. Some people will take the initiative to master the new tech, and they will replace the people who don't. It's their choice.
Instead of training luddites to use technology they don't understand, it's better to hire people who already see the potential of AI and are making efforts to capitalize on it. Fill your company with people who share your vision for a better, more automated world, and fire those who don't. Unregulated market forces are the best way to force AI adoption, and people will quickly learn AI once it becomes a requirement for survival.
Sometimes caring for people is ensuring they find better job opportunities elsewhere. Leave glowing reviews, give them warm leads at other companies, give good severance packages.
But you do not have to keep them hired. You are running a business, you hire based on your needs, not theirs.
> Sometimes caring for people is ensuring they find better job opportunities elsewhere. Leave glowing reviews, give them warm leads at other companies, give good severance packages.
> But you do not have to keep them hired. You are running a business, you hire based on your needs, not theirs.
Caring for someone isn't kicking them out the door with a kind word. That's just assuaging your own guilt and little else.
If you actually "cared" for those people, you'd keep them on the payroll until they actually found "better job opportunities elsewhere."
> If you actually "cared" for those people, you'd keep them on the payroll until they actually found "better job opportunities elsewhere."
Unfortunately, there are strong systemic forces working against this approach. This is why when executives say that the team/company are "like a family" they might mean it, but they can't actually exhibit the behaviours of a family when times get tough. Being too nice can risk the well-being of the overall company which could put everyone out of a job suddenly.
The answer society has come up with so far is funding and maintaining institutions that can run at a loss without going out of business. But this seems increasingly unpopular in some circles.
“Strong systemic forces” is code for “I’m not willing to put in the time or effort to figure this out, because I’d rather excuse myself out of it”.
Stop making excuses. You as a person can make a difference if you want to. If you won’t, then that’s your own decision, don’t blame anyone else for it.
Don’t point the finger at “society”, what happens when you point the finger at yourself? Don’t deflect.
Letting employees cling to jobs where they are no longer needed is unhealthy for everyone, and deprives resources for new people to join the company with new talents that may be in demand.
> Letting employees cling to jobs where they are no longer needed is unhealthy for everyone...
Quit lying to yourself. It's certainly not "unhealthy for everyone," for instance it's probably healthier for laid off employees in many circumstances.
"It's better for everyone" often translates to "it's better for me and I don't really care about you."
I don't know... whereas before the internet enabled people in poor countries to offer their labor to the international market at competitive rates, AI threatens to undercut their price advantage.
Stop voting capitalists that only care about shareholders and treat the workforce as disposable, then. Tax the damn rich and use that money for public spending. It's not that hard.
We can choose to make it more equal. We can choose to even things, and to work less.
It’s us using the AI to do things.
Let’s stop pretending like our hands are tied. We can build a better world if we want to. Don’t give me excuses about how everyone else will do something so then you have to do the same.
Take responsibility for your own actions.
Don’t fire people that you can replace with AI. Instead, re-train them to use AI to make your business better and for everyone to work less.
Be creative, be visionary, be disruptive and be compassionate. Care about people over money.
Mother Theresa said: “if you want to change the world, go home and love your family”
Maybe this time, if you want to change the world, don’t replace people with AI. Do replace their work, but keep the people and find them something more human to work on.