“We are summoning the demon.” — Elon Musk
AI AND THE FUTURE OF WORK By Josh Tyrangiel warns about the effects of Artificial Intelligence on the labor markets. Soon, AI–which doesn’t require a salary, healthcare, vacations, and can work 24/7–will start replacing workers. Expect massive unemployment as AI will operate call centers and write software and operate factories, warehouses, and hospitals.
“Mass job loss doesn’t just mean unemployment, it means cascading defaults, shrinking consumer demand, and the kind of self-reinforcing downturn that can transform a shock into a crisis, and a crisis into the decline of an empire.” –Josh Tyrangiel
Just as the Internet and cell phones changed everything, Artificial Intelligence with upend our culture. Former students contact me, desperate because they’ve just been laid off and despite sending out dozens of resumes, few firms are hiring. What those firms are doing is investing in AI. Prepare for massive economic misery!
If you want to know more about the tsunami of despair ahead of us, you can watch The Terminator or read AI AND THE FUTURE OF WORK by Josh Tyrangiel. Are you worried about Artificial Intelligence? GRADE A
Well given how terrible the products of AI, or proto-AI, have been so far, it’s less being afraid of them than of the heated rush to downsize the economy, the billionaire class thrilled to increase profit margins and not giving the wispiest damn about the downgrading of their products (when they actually produce something), and the general worsening of data and related product until such tine as AI actually approaches common human intelligence on a consistent basis.
And given the nature of the current admin here and too many others in the rest of the world, it’s not a rosy picture.
Tyrangiel interviewed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXRTFzQdQMI (sure, blame the kids)
the article: https://archive.ph/cLCn1
Todd, thanks for the link!
Not at all.
Harry Shearer’s weekly update on “AI”: https://harryshearer.com/le-shows/february-22-2026/#t=27:42
Todd, you’re right about the lack of a “rosy picture” for our current economy. Job anxiety will continue to surge as AI takes over.
I’m worried about AI in every aspect—not least of which is that it can only be as accurate/intelligent as the data used to program it, and—based on what we’ve seen know about human intelligence as a whole—that is not reassuring.
Obligatory tag line: I’m glad I’m old.
“AI”-driven geriatric (and all other) medicine/care not a great prospect
Todd, my nephew is a Primary Care MD in Ohio. He told me the hospitals are all in on AI. “They’re trying to do away with doctors,” he explained. AI diagnosis is becoming more and more common.
Of course.
Deb, I fear what is in store for our kids. AI will have a huge impact on their lives going forward. And not in a Good Way…
What Deb said.
To quote obe of my T-shirts:
“Two things are infinite:
The universe and human stupidity:
and I’m not sure about the universe.”
— Albert Einstein
When you’re dealing with a know-nothing moron like Trump, whose only frame of reference for anything is “What’s in it for me?”, it makes everything that much worse.
Another quote:
“We’re doomed, doomed. ”
— Bill Crider
Jeff, well said! Bill Crider would not be a fan of Artificial Intelligence. I just read an article about a Romance writer who “wrote” 200 novels last year with the help of an AI program.
Here’s an example of how AI is being used by our government: last week, my sister (a veteran) received notification that the VA was using AI to review veteran’s disability payments, and when they discovered veterans who were being paid for a medicated condition, they would be reducing their benefits accordingly (there was more to it than that, but you get the idea). There was an immediate hue & cry from veterans groups (and rightly so), so the VA released a “clarification” that they weren’t using AI to cut veterans benefits (color me skeptical 🤨), but as my sister put it, why couldn’t AI be used to determine situations where veterans weren’t receiving their full benefits? No, of course not. AI is only used for negative purposes.
Deb, using AI for negative purposes seems to be the Name of the Game.
Deb nailed it. I hate AI. I’m extremely technically challenged and
Still read a print newspaper, request printed copies of everything. I was late to texting, but do now see some positive to using it.
My worst experiences are trying to get a live person on a phone call. I have AAA car insurance and when I sent my renewal due Feb 1 on January 5, I expected my proof form by the 18th. I called on the 19th and was told it was on the way. I called on the 29th and asked it be expedited. I finally got it on the 5th but it had an expiration date of 2-1-2026. I called again. Each time I spent 10-15 minutes trying to get a real human.
Maggie, Artificial Intelligence is being used to replace humans at all call centers. AI is cheap. It’s just a money grab!
A lecture I attended last week said it would be worse than the debacle of the Bronze Age and it could occur as early as in a decade. And being old will not save us because our savings and stocks will quickly disappear from failing banks. An immediate change in the tax codes needs to happen among a long list of things. Only two small cities survived the last civilization failure.
But in 10 years we might be dead or too old to care.
Jeff, I’m hoping for 20 years…
Patti, the future of currencies around the world are under threat by crypto. Banks are going to be fighting for survival as AI becomes more powerful.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Bronze_Age_Collapse/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22244257386&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7-rMBhCFARIsAKnLKtCft6drMomAi2nIRhSk3x5OpwdDhWr7rPiZKw-lYLIB2xS_DF6vV_EaAjZjEALw_wcB
Lots of similarities between the reasons for their collapse and what is going on new. Environmental issues greatly contributed.
A very useful angle…even as all the selfishness behind attempts to foist aping intelligence onto societies are not meant to benefit the vast majority of people, nor the rest of our biomes.
Todd, basically AI benefits the owners of businesses who can get rid of expensive humans and replace them with software.
And sell “AI” services to each other. With kickbacks at times.
To say nothing of tax dodges and gov kickbacks.
Todd, what really bothers me is that there is NO regulation of Artificial Intelligence. It’s the Wild West of the Tech World!
I’ve been bitching about AI for a long time! It’s not only industry, but the arts that are being ruined by AI. Art, writing, movies, and every other creative endeavor is feeling the impact!
Bob, you’re right. But the worst is yet to come…