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AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds

independent.co.uk

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Re: AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds

#11

Post by formerly_proven »

LurkandComment wrote: post #8

AI isn't about jobs and efficiency, it's about having a stronger position over labor. AI is useful, in most cases this makes existing labor better. The number of jobs that can be actually automated by it is much lower than people percieve. But the narrative is what matters. The temporary displacement and uncertainty of labor is what matters. It creates a weaker position for labor.

> It creates a weaker position for labor.

Is this worth >1 trillion in capex?

For reference, less than 100 billion have been invested into fusion energy — since 1950.

Re: AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds

#12

Post by simonw »

I think this is the underlying report the article references: https://www.challengergray.com/blog/summer-lull-ends-july-jo...

I can't tell how credible the claim is that "increased adoption of generative AI technologies by private employers led to more than 10,000 lost jobs".

Re: AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds

#14

Post by penguin202 »

LurkandComment wrote: post #8

AI isn't about jobs and efficiency, it's about having a stronger position over labor. AI is useful, in most cases this makes existing labor better. The number of jobs that can be actually automated by it is much lower than people percieve. But the narrative is what matters. The temporary displacement and uncertainty of labor is what matters. It creates a weaker position for labor.

100% spot on

Re: AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds

#15

Post by jerf »

ujkhsjkdhf234 wrote: post #3

How many of these jobs will stay gone? I feel like I've seen this over and over where a new advancement causes job loss then management realizes it wasn't all it was cracked up to be and need to hire again.

From what I can see in software space, any software-primary company that thinks AI means they can fire 3/4ths of their staff in the near future will get stomped in the market by their competitor who decided to take the 4x productivity improvement instead.

It may make working for a non-software-primary company as a programmer more risky. But then, "be a value provider, where execs can draw a fairly straight line from your contribution to revenue, and not a value consumer" is not new career advice.

Re: AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds

#16

Post by fifilura »

formerly_proven wrote: post #11
LurkandComment wrote: post #8

AI isn't about jobs and efficiency, it's about having a stronger position over labor. AI is useful, in most cases this makes existing labor better. The number of jobs that can be actually automated by it is much lower than people percieve. But the narrative is what matters. The temporary displacement and uncertainty of labor is what matters. It creates a weaker position for labor.

> It creates a weaker position for labor. Is this worth >1 trillion in capex? For reference, less than 100 billion have been invested into fusion energy — since 1950 .

Could be? What is your take?

What does fusion energy have to do with labor cost?

Obviously AI is technology that has its own value.

But keeping the labor cost down by just a few percent (and handing that money to company profits) has tremendous leverage.

Re: AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds

#17

Post by dc10tonite »

LurkandComment wrote: post #8

AI isn't about jobs and efficiency, it's about having a stronger position over labor. AI is useful, in most cases this makes existing labor better. The number of jobs that can be actually automated by it is much lower than people percieve. But the narrative is what matters. The temporary displacement and uncertainty of labor is what matters. It creates a weaker position for labor.

This is an excellent point. It should also be noted that the people who want a better position over labor largely write mediocre memos, make bad decisions, barely listen in meetings, and slap together powerpoints for said meetings. As it turns out, AI can also automate the work of thousands of shitty execs and upper management. If only we could apply that pressure in their direction...

Re: AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds

#19

Post by tallclair »

LurkandComment wrote: post #8

AI isn't about jobs and efficiency, it's about having a stronger position over labor. AI is useful, in most cases this makes existing labor better. The number of jobs that can be actually automated by it is much lower than people percieve. But the narrative is what matters. The temporary displacement and uncertainty of labor is what matters. It creates a weaker position for labor.

It doesn’t need to be able to entirely automate a job to replace jobs though. If it enables one worker to be 10 times as productive, then the company can hire 9 fewer people (depending on how the productivity of the position scales)

Re: AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds

#20

Post by pixl97 »

torginus wrote: post #6
amilios wrote: post #2

How is causality figured out here? How do we know it's not just a "standard" market downturn/downsizing to compensate for previous overhiring etc.?

It's simple - if they claim the loss in job numbers is due to AI, not economic downturn, that will cause more people to click on the article.

I'd say it's a bit more complicated than that.

Let's take the blame a bit farther back.

Instead of the person writing the article, what about the companies laying people off. It looks much better to say "Costs savings for going to AI" versus "Economic uncertainty in future orders"

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