Are Our Jobs Doomed, or is There Still Hope?
Discussions about AI taking our jobs are getting more real
There has been more talk about AI taking jobs this week from Dario Amodei, CEO of one of the main AI platforms, Anthropic. In this Axios article he alludes to the fact that many of us are downplaying this risk, all the way of government down to business leaders. This is quite an interesting statement from someone who's very business is a leading source of those potential job losses.
If you recall, I wrote about AI taking junior jobs a few weeks ago, and a view supported this week in Fortune; but Amodei's comments lead me to think the impact is going to be far broader than that.
Is This Breaking News?
And yet, I suppose none of this is breaking news either. We've heard these statements for the last two years and of course history has many stories to tell in regard to technical innovation. Society will most likely adapt. I'm not sure I see a future where AI leads to a large population of permanent unemployed, rather we will find other tasks that need completing. In fact there's an argument that more jobs could be available to a broader range of society as AI reduces the need for some advanced concepts that might have previously needed formal training.
Humans are Here to Stay
It's also true that we're now at a stage where we can see the impact and results of many AI projects. There are a number of examples where AI hasn't immediately delivered, with both Dualingo and Klarna reverting back to a more human lead workforce than they publicly announced.
And this echo's a position I've written about for a while:
However, I do see one clear goal for all of us, and that is to educate ourselves on AI as much as possible. Those of us that are already able to use it in our day-to-day lives whether that's for productivity gains or getting insights from data we could never have had before, then you'll be far better protected in this new era.
Using generative AI at work still has the ability to cause embarrassment, or worse a large mistake, when we don't check the output.
To prevent that, I've created a Notion document complete:
- Simple checkpoints before using AI.
- A clear process for checking AI output for accuracy and quality.
- Actionable tips on how to add their own valuable insights and polish AI responses.
- Practical examples for common work tasks.
- Essential background info on why AI can make mistakes (like 'hallucinations').
- And much more, all within an easy-to-use, interactive Notion template.
Curated News
Google’s Vision for the Future of AI Agents
In a recent interview, Google CEO Sundar Pichai discussed the company's advancements in AI, highlighting the development of AI agents capable of performing tasks on behalf of users. These agents aim to transform how we interact with technology, making it more proactive and personalized. Pichai emphasized the potential of these agents to revolutionize search and other services by understanding context and user intent more effectively.
Cisco Predicts Agentic AI Will Handle Majority of Customer Service by 2028
Cisco's latest research indicates that agentic AI is set to manage 68% of customer service and support interactions by 2028. The study highlights the growing demand for AI-driven customer experiences, with businesses seeking more personalized and efficient support solutions. Despite the rise of AI, the importance of human connection remains, with many customers still valuing human interaction in service scenarios.
IBM Discusses Realistic Expectations for AI Agents in 2025
IBM experts provided insights into the current state and future of AI agents, emphasizing the need to separate hype from reality. While AI agents promise to transform workflows by autonomously executing tasks, IBM stresses the importance of understanding their current capabilities and limitations. The company advocates for a balanced approach, recognizing both the potential and the challenges in deploying agentic AI effectively.
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Thanks for reading, and see you next Friday.
Simon,
Are you looking for a job in the tech sector? You'd do well to check out all the available roles on Wellfound. Wellfound is a platform that connects startups and tech companies with job seekers. It offers over 130,000 remote and local job listings, allowing candidates to apply with a single profile and view salary and equity details upfront.
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