You've probably seen this AI meme doing the rounds on social media
You've probably seen this AI meme doing the rounds on social media
It mocks a client's ability to articulate their wants and says that's what will keep your job safe from AI. Here's why that assumption is dead wrong.
You've probably seen this quote (or some version of it) doing the rounds on social media:
"To replace [insert job title] with AI, our clients must accurately describe what they want.
So we're safe."
At first, I thought it was funny.
However, as someone that works with AI (amongst other tech,) I realized this gloating was actually quite arrogant - and ultimately deadly to one’s career if ignored.
Here are 16 jobs that believed they were safe until technology advanced enough to make their assumption moot.
It's important to note that in many cases, the jobs aren't entirely gone but have shifted or diminished due to automation and other technological advancements:
1) Bank Tellers: While not entirely replaced, the use of ATMs and online banking have reduced the need for human bank tellers.
2) Postal Workers: Email and digital communications have reduced the volume of traditional mail, impacting jobs in the postal service.
3) Newspaper Printers and Deliverers: The shift towards digital media has greatly reduced the need for physical newspaper printing and delivery.
4) Factory Workers: Automated systems and robotics in manufacturing processes have replaced many traditional factory roles.
5) Checkout Cashiers: Self-checkout systems and online shopping have replaced some roles for cashiers.
6) Photo Developers: With the rise of digital photography, the need for film development has nearly vanished.
7) Library Catalogers: Digital databases and online resources have automated much of the work previously performed by library catalogers.
8) Bookkeepers: Automation in financial software has replaced some of the tasks previously performed by bookkeepers.
9) Typesetters: Digital publishing and word processing software have made manual typesetting obsolete.
10) Video Rental Clerks: Streaming services have largely replaced video rental stores.
11) Telemarketers: Automated dialling and messaging systems have replaced many telemarketing roles.
12) Assembly Line Workers: Robotics and automation have replaced many of these positions in industries like auto manufacturing.
13) Data Entry Clerks: With the improvement in OCR and automation tools, the need for data entry clerks has been reduced.
14) Switchboard Operator: With the advent of digital systems and automation, this role has been mostly replaced.
15) Film Projectionist: The need for skilled film projectionists has been significantly reduced with digital projectors.
16) Travel Agents: Online booking sites have greatly reduced the demand for travel agents, although some still exist in niche markets.
While this might seem alarming, it's also important to remember that technological advancement often leads to the creation of new jobs. For example, the rise of the internet has created countless new professions that didn't exist 30 years ago.
As for AI's impact, I warn against assuming that clients being able to articulate what they want is your saving grace.
It's not.
Here's why.
A client might fumble their first interaction with an AI and "ask wrongly." Unlike asking a human, there's NO SHAME in making a mistake because the AI doesn't judge you. So the client will ask repeatedly and maybe even ask the AI how to ask better questions or prompts!
Remember, if knowing the answer was a requirement before starting, how is it that search engines exist? Their entire business model is based on the expectation that the client does not know how to ask correctly!
Until next time,
#StayFrosty :)
James