At the beginning of the 19th century, a movement appeared, called the Luddites, whose members, workers in the British textile industry, realized (rightly so) that the new machinery in the weaving mills would take their jobs. It didn’t matter that production was higher and cheaper, which also lowered the prices they themselves paid for clothes. Skilled weavers were being replaced by machines, machines that required fewer and less skilled workers. And the only way they could express their disagreement was by destroying the machinery, keeping it up for 6 years.
But they weren’t the only ones. After the English had been set on the righteous path of the Industrial Revolution, it was the French who, for the same reasons as across the Channel, started destroying machinery. More precisely, sewing machines. The revolt didn’t last as long here, because that factory had a contract with the army. The army which, at risk of ending up with its backside exposed, did what it knew best to keep the contract going. Opening fire.
Today nobody shoots Luddites anymore, which back then became a synonym for those who oppose technology. Today we talk on forums, on TV or on Facebook and TikTok about the latest threat to certain jobs: Artificial Intelligence.
And yes, it is a threat. Just like sewing machines were for weavers, cars or trains for coachmen, computers for accountants and typists, or automatic telephone exchanges for switchboard operators.
And every single time there were “experts” ready to play devil’s advocate. Some believed that the speed of trains (the first train had a speed of under 30 km/h) could harm passengers, causing physical injuries or mental illness.
Back in the day, there were “themed visits” with students to socialist enterprises, so they could choose where, as future working people, they would build socialism. And we ended up at a “Computing Center”. It was a big hall, with people in white coats and some wall-sized machines, with magnetic tapes spinning in jerks. The only Center in town. And we weren’t even allowed inside, because we’d bring in dust and break the machines. We looked through a window. Isn’t it better now, when programming and operating computers have been democratized? When anyone can build an app or operate a PC (or a phone), from anywhere, and even get paid for it? Some even very well. Extremely well.
For about 9 years I’ve been earning my bread from programming. Almost only from programming. AI is exactly what I was missing. What I was missing to finish the job faster and, because Time is money, cheaper. I’ll collect the same money for less work. Or more money in the same amount of time. Admittedly, I’m not an employee.
Let’s be fair. The IT job market didn’t go into crisis because of AI. But AI is the cherry on top of the funeral cake. Okay, you’re smart. But what about all the young people who are now in college or fresh graduates, what will they do? What will they live on? How will they pay their mortgages and car loans? They went to college when IT was booming and kept hearing that people in IT are paid so well for doing nothing. Go into IT, dear, so you can have an easy, well-paid job. My answer? I don’t know. But I do know you don’t go to college because people say so, you don’t go to college because it’s trendy, and bubbles have always existed and always will. Because IT was a bubble. And since we don’t know how to learn from mistakes, we keep inventing bubbles, just to have enough for everyone.
Yes, but haven’t you seen what they’re doing with AI? They’re doing nothing but stupid things with it. This AI thing should be banned, dear. By that logic, we should ban cars, knives, axes, electricity and ropes. Oh, and looms. Definitely looms, because workers get their hands caught in them. No, AI doesn’t do stupid things. AI is just a tool, like any other tool. People do stupid things with AI, just like people do stupid things with any other tool. And just like the law says that if you stick the tool called a knife into your neighbor from stairwell B, you go to jail, AI must be regulated in the same way.
There are employees who pay for a ChatGPT subscription out of their own pocket. And that way they get their work done faster. And maybe that’s how they keep their job.
Happy Coding!
Sources: images created with ChatGPT
