Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Sometimes we attribute things we don’t like to things we don’t like. It’s easier that way, even though it isn’t reality.

Well, here we have it: AI is replacing people. We can read it in the newspaper. Plain and simple. I link to one newspaper article. I could link to a dozen more. Sigh. Newspapers used to have editors. I guess newspapers still have people called “editors,” but they don’t seem to do their jobs any more.

All this AI chatter-this and chatter-that stuff does not and will not replace people. People replace other people with new tools that are less costly.

Yes, I am writing that, “AI doesn’t replace people; people replace people.” (Readers can wince in pain at such a trite statement that mirrors other statements in the press.)

People in positions who have the authority to fire and hire other people are firing other people. Why? Because there are new tools that will do the jobs of those other people at lower cost.

When word processing computers and software became widespread, secretaries lost their jobs. Everyone was supposed to do their own typing. The new tools enabled that. Expectations changed, and so did jobs. Secretaries became Office Coordinator, Executive Assistant, Office Manager, and Administrative Professional, or something or other.

Now we have software that can “write” short, basic memos, emails, etc. Why pay a person to do that when software does it at a lower cost?

Well, there are many reasons to pay a person to do that. Still, some persons don’t agree with those reasons, so they replace persons with software.

AI didn’t replace the person—the boss replaced the person.

That sounds mean to blame the boss. Let’s blame some thing, especially some thing that we already don’t like, like “AI.”