Sorry Mira, but no jobs should go away due to AI

by

As a crypto investor with a background in technology and a deep understanding of the industry’s trends, I believe that the advancement of AI and ML is an exciting development that holds immense potential to transform various industries and improve our lives. However, I also share the concerns raised by many regarding the impact of these technologies on employment and the role of humans in creative spaces.

As a researcher exploring the depths of human capability, I am continually amazed by the infinite potential of the mind. It is this powerhouse of creativity that has given rise to groundbreaking inventions and innovations, constructed mighty empires and civilizations, and masterminded wars and coups. Furthermore, it is the same limitless intellect that has led us into a new era defined by information technology, an age that has utterly transformed our daily lives.

As a researcher studying the intersection of human cognition and advanced technologies, I can’t help but acknowledge the vulnerability of the human mind. Fear, be it rational or irrational, is an inherent part of our existence, and at times, it can hinder our mental abilities significantly.

Mira Murati, OpenAI’s CTO and creator of ChatGPT, expressed her view during a talk show at Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering that advanced AI tools could potentially eliminate certain creative jobs. She added, however, that these jobs might not have been necessary in the first place.

Mira’s comment sparked criticism from various quarters after it was perceived that her company was exploiting artists’ works to enhance their AI models, leading to a strong reaction from the artistic community. They viewed Mira’s statement as a shift in OpenAI’s mission, which was established in 2015 as a non-profit with the goal of creating “safe and beneficial” artificial intelligence.

In a post-pandemic economy where investment in venture capital is decreasing and nations such as the UK and Japan are teetering on the brink of recession, while European and South Asian countries grapple with unemployment and inflation, Mira’s statement has fanned the flames of anxiety.

Fear Psychosis : Will AI take away my job ?

With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), there has been ongoing controversy over the potential for job displacement, despite the rapid integration of AI-powered technologies by businesses.

According to Gartner’s most recent forecast, the worldwide IT expenditure is projected to reach $5 trillion by 2024, marking a noteworthy 8% growth over the previous year. This significant rise in IT spending, notwithstanding a decline in venture capital investments, can mainly be attributed to substantial increases in AI-related investments during the 2023-24 period.

There’s significant apprehension among white collar workers as advances in AI technology may lead to the automation of their jobs, rendering them obsolete over time.

As a researcher studying the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the job market, I find the website “robbotswilltakemyjob.com” to be an intriguing resource. It sheds light on which professions face the greatest risk of being automated. Notably, jobs in logistics, office and administrative support, media industries, financial clerks, and information and record keeping are among the most susceptible to this trend.

On the other hand, a recent study reveals an intriguing aspect of the ongoing debate. Namely, over 60% of the jobs in the U.S. in 2018 did not exist prior to 1940. MIT economist David Autor was the author of this report, which unveiled a striking correlation between higher education levels and greater wage earnings among American workers. The research also highlighted that after computers became prevalent in the U.S., highly skilled workers whose jobs entailed information handling, calculation, communication, and problem-solving experienced significant productivity gains. Conversely, middle skill workers whose roles involved gathering data and performing calculations for their more educated counterparts were ultimately replaced by computerization.

In the late 1980s, when the Indian government aimed to integrate computer technology into its administration, opposition parties voiced concerns that this would lead to job losses for people. An intriguing article published by India Today on December 31, 1987, sheds light on the transformations witnessed in the Indian bureaucracy following the introduction of over 100,000 computers into the country.

As a crypto investor looking back at history, I can tell you that the integration of computers into Indian offices brought about significant change. Though it led to the replacement of some clerical and administrative workers, it paved the way for an IT revolution in India. The establishment of major IT hubs in cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad was a gradual process, resulting in countless job opportunities for educated Indians.

One potential way to rephrase this: The fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning are still in their infancy, with many unexplored possibilities. Over the next ten years or so, we’ll gain a clearer understanding of how AI will transform various industries. While it’s true that some middle-level jobs could be automated, this doesn’t necessarily mean that new jobs won’t emerge as technology evolves.

The potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in sophisticated medical research, biotechnology, finance, and logistics are vast, and all signs point to these technologies bringing about significant positive changes in people’s lives.

Listening to the chief technical officer of OpenAI expressing concerns that certain high-risk jobs shouldn’t have existed initially leaves people uneasy about advancing technologies. Mira’s remark is not only disrespectful, but also narrow-minded and undermines the aspirations of her own company.

AI in creative spaces- Lower the barrier or lower the bar ?

At the talk show, Mira shared her perspective on AI‘s function in imaginative realms and how it has the power to inspire creativity in virtually anyone through the use of prompts.

“Mira expressed that humans often view creativity as a unique ability belonging to a select few talented individuals. However, these AI tools have the power to make creativity more accessible and broaden one’s creative potential for anyone.”

Mira’s comment foreshadowed the moment when she expressed the view that certain “creative positions” were unnecessary from the outset.

The notion that AI makes it easier for anyone to be creative by lowering the entry bar is debatable, as it may unintentionally undermine the significant contributions of artists whose creations served as the foundation for AI’s development in terms of consciousness and capabilities.

Artists serve as guardians and archivists of our era, capturing history’s moments, recounting grand stories, and unearthing the core of life through their brushes. Unlike “use cases,” their roles can’t be encoded in software or ultimately superseded by machines.

Mira Murati’s statement from OpenAI’s CTO is merely an attempt to instill fear in the public regarding an advanced technology, which actually holds immense promise for human progress. A social media user aptly expressed this perspective when they stated, “I prefer AI to handle my household chores rather than my creative pursuits.”

Read More

2024-06-25 10:13