Welcome to Issue 013 of Break Bytes.

The past 7 months in AI feel like half a decade.

Generative AI has taken the world by storm, ChatGPT took headline attention for months and new business models have risen, bringing fresh opportunities for the taking.

We’re seeing the impact of the new technological revolution.

There’s no doubt that AI is changing, and will change, the world we once knew.

It’s helping businesses reduce costs and automate boring tasks, so humans can focus on things that deliver greater value to the business - like those that require the human element (think sales).

But, there are teams working on solutions as I type, to automate the human aspect.

In an interview with The Atlantic, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told the magazine “Jobs are definitely going to go away, full stop“, in relation to AI.

Much of the discussion online, particularly on Twitter, argues whether AI is going to enhance humans or take away jobs － genuine questions we should all be paying attention to, because it’ll impact the dynamic of our future.

It highlights the concern on the impact of AI-driven unemployment.

In 2017, consulting firm McKinsey, released a report looking into the impact automation will have on work.

The firm estimated that up to 800 million jobs (or people), could be affected by this as a result. In March 2023, Goldman Sachs, projected that 300 million jobs (again, people) could be impacted, or “degraded” by the technology.

The common factor from such reports is AI shaking up industries en masse.

Hollywood has been facing the heat for the past 3 months.

The ongoing row of strikes is fighting against the AI proposal that would grant studios to use an actor’s likeness, indefinitely. Imagine being digitised － that version of you being used across movies and series, and not get compensated.

If passed, it will affect young people looking to get into the field.

Think about it. Some of these young people are studying for their dream creative careers at university. Right now.

Imagine finishing university, and come out in a limbo because the industry has been automated. And there’s not enough action being taken due to the rapid advancements of AI technology.

Personally, people are not prepared.

What should the young generation do, when everywhere they turn is in going through the automation process? This uncertainty about the future is a factor that is going to have a lot of impact on their futures.

Awareness needs to be raised about modern technologies to prepare society for global changes that will affect daily life.

This shake up brings new changes, and these new changes bring new job titles.

While automation will disrupt jobs, new jobs and opportunities could also emerge as AI complements and enhances human capabilities.

To minimise the potential drastic impact of automation, awareness should be raised and re-skilling programs should be introduced to help with the transition.

Conclusion

As for whether AI-driven unemployment is a farce, or pending future, it’s something that is yet to be seen － for now.

I’m not going to deny that automation could have serious negative repercussions; job losses, disruption of career paths and shortage of support programs could be some of the results that become our pending future.

But there’s also a lot good that could come out of it － improved qualities of life, new emerging jobs, and innovation, like the recent LK-99 superconductor that has recently set the technology industry ablaze.

It’s important to be prepared and remain in the know of developments when it comes to modern technologies.

The rapid emergence of AI will inevitably bring change.

Rather than resisting technological progress, we should proactively shape it for the betterment of all. It’s what we must do if we want to make improvements from our current systems, holistically speaking.

And to do that, we must take action across the entire board.

Here a glimpse of the vision:

Policymakers have an opportunity to implement programs that help re-skill workers and strengthen social safety nets. It’s why I love the fact that members of Congress are going to be educated on Artificial Intelligence.

The better-informed our policymakers are on modern technologies, the better they can be regulated.

Next, would be educational organisations and industries.

Educational organisations, along educators, can evolve curriculums that teach adaptability and creativity. Doing so, ensures learning programs are just for each industry, and fosters the collective mindset.

Next would be education at the individual level.

At the individual level, a person should maintain a growth mindset and take the initiative to educate themselves and join communities that foster collaboration. Failing to do so, could result in unseen realities that go against your favour.

It’s important to take command over your future and learn, to become better prepared for the world/s that could be.

The future remains unwritten. And like any other journey, there will be challenges along the way.

This technological revolution brings limitless potential － if steered wisely through ethical development. We should work together to build an inclusive future enhanced by automation.

The first step is opening our mind to what could be.

Key Takeaways

• Automation will create new emerging jobs and opportunities as a result

• AI could bring high job losses and disrupt career paths, if unchecked

• Policymakers must develop programs to re-skill AI displaced workers

• Educators need to evolve curriculums to teach adaptable skills

• Individuals should proactively gain skills in demand in an AI future

• Ethical and human-centric development are crucial to AI’s impact

• Embracing a growth mindset and learning relevant skills will be key

Have anything interesting to share? Reach out on Twitter: @ricobuilds

Let me know your take on this week’s topic.

Let’s build together 🤝

Rico

P.S. Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

#1: Ready to streamline your business with AI automation? Let’s chat. »»»

Click here to book a call with me

#2: Have you seen my YouTube channel? I’m putting tons of effort into creating practical development content that I think you’ll like.

#3: Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn for more emerging technology insights, machine learning experiments, and teardowns on my journey.

Thank You!

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here