TELLUS International’s Post

Interested in AI? Just ordered this book: "AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future" by Kai-Fu Lee & Chen Qiufan. Read this and join the #AI book club , spearheaded by Luiza Jarovsky You may find more questions to ask vendors and additional subjects to explore. "Optimists argue that productivity gains from new technology almost always produce economic benefits - that more growth and more prosperity always mean more jobs. But Al and automation differ from other technologies. As we've established in previous chapters, AI is an omni-use technology that will drive changes across hundreds of industries and millions of tasks simultaneously, both cognitive and physical. While most technologies were job creators and job destroyers at the same time - think about how the assembly line changed the automotive industry from artisans hand-assembling expensive cars to routine workers building many cars at much lower prices - the explicit goal of Al is to take over human tasks, thereby decimating jobs. The Industrial Revolution took over a century to spread beyond Europe and the United States, while AI is already being adopted all across the world." (page 347) #bookshelf #LiteracyLeague

To humans, AI is a paradoxical force: a powerful productivity ally and job-destroying foe. That’s the subject of the second John Stossel episode I helped former ABC News 20/20 reporter John Stossel create, "Jobs vs. Machines: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence." It already has hundreds of thousands of views and 1,500+ comments. Stossel takes a balanced stance on AI. Like our last piece on driverless vehicles, he points out that AI augments and elevates our capabilities. It makes humans 44% faster and 20% better at critical thinking tasks. AI is creating exciting tech-augmented education, healthcare, technology, and hospitality jobs. At the same time, AI is putting some jobs at risk. Jobs like truck driving, manufacturing, and creative work will shift, drift, or vanish. But AI is different than looms, tractors, and ATMs. It augments our brain, not our brawn. To survive and thrive in the AI age, we need to think different. Everyone needs a new AI growth mindset. I just finished teaching my third cohort of The Generative AI Growth Mindset workshop and opened another one for registration (100% of net tuition is donated to charity). It was great to be joined by folks like Ralph Farinella, Sachi Sawamura, Robert Merlicek, and Clarke Bishop. See you there! https://lnkd.in/gGDM3534 #automation #AI #futureofwork

How do we transition to those new jobs that are supposed to appear en masse when AI takes the current jobs? Ardent AI supporters assure us we don’t need to worry about AI taking jobs, since there will be a vast number of new jobs created to replace the current jobs. (For the record, I am a strong AI supporter – I just want to ensure we address the issues as well as embrace the positives.) Ignoring for the moment whether that’s likely to be true or not, let’s take a deeper look at some of the oft-cited historical technology transitions. Mobile phones – this was recent, so most of us remember it. However, it provided essentially an all-new set of capabilities, not replacing anything, so that’s not a valid comparison. Horses to cars – that was replacing one form of transportation with another, so not actually replacing people, but just moving them from one to another. Nonetheless, let’s consider the times involved. Cars became widely available as a transportation solution in the 1920’s. Yet it wasn’t until the 1950’s that we could say horses were generally (in the US and Europe at least) no longer a standard form of transportation. That’s 30 years for the transition. Mechanized factories – this is a very valid comparison, since these factories directly replaced people, creating the same products faster, cheaper, and in many cases better. The first example was probably water-powered cotton mills around 1740. Steam-powered machinery for metal-working appeared around 1775 or so. Widespread adoption across various industries was complete somewhere in the early 19th century, let’s say about 1820-1830. This is anywhere from 50-100 years for the transition. By contrast, AI is likely going to eliminate many jobs within the next 5 years. As of today, the only new jobs identified are a small number to manage AI. Even if we do identify many more new jobs, can we do the transition in less than 5 years without major societal disruption? Maybe, but it’s never been done before!

AI is Here to Augment, Not Replace 🌟 It’s a common fear: "AI is going to replace our jobs." But let's take a step back and rethink this. This statement is fundamentally flawed. AI isn’t here to take your job away; it’s here to automate the parts of your job you dislike the most. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤: > Machines and Physical Labor: -- Then: Hard physical labor on farms and in factories was the norm. -- Now: Machines took over, freeing people to move to more comfortable, less physically demanding jobs. > Computers and Manual Calculations: -- Then: Tedious manual calculations were done by hand. -- Now: Computers and software like Excel automate these tasks, allowing for more complex problem-solving and creativity. > AI and Robotics: -- Now: AI is the next wave, set to automate the repetitive, mundane parts of -- our jobs. Think data entry, routine customer service inquiries, and basic analysis. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠: > Focus on Creativity and Problem-Solving: With AI handling the tedious tasks, we can focus on the creative and strategic aspects of our work. > Better Job Satisfaction: Eliminating the boring parts of our jobs means more time spent on tasks that are engaging and fulfilling. > Societal Advancement: As we automate the mundane, society can shift towards roles that require human ingenuity, empathy, and innovation. 💬 What are your thoughts on AI and its role in the future of work? How do you see it transforming your job or industry? #innovation #technology #future #management #startups

"Best and the rest - The result is a two-tier economy. Firms that embrace tech are pulling away from the competition...Three possibilities explain lower diffusion: the nature of new technology, sluggish competition, and growing regulation...Could ai break the mould, diffusing across the economy faster than other recent technologies? Perhaps...the biggest benefits from new forms of ai will come when firms entirely reorganise themselves around the new technology...That will take time, money and, crucially, a competitive drive...it could take years for the technology to become sufficiently cheap for mass deployment...Surveys of small businesses are not encouraging. One...suggests that around 40% of those in America are uninterested in ai tools. The technology is undoubtedly revolutionary. But are businesses ready for a revolution?"

As we approach a future where automation and AI could potentially replace many traditional jobs, this article explores the profound societal and personal implications of a world without work. It delves into the potential benefits, such as increased leisure time and the opportunity for individuals to pursue their passions. However, it also highlights the challenges, including the risk of increased inequality and the need for a new social contract. The article further discusses potential solutions like Universal Basic Income (UBI) and the redefinition of work itself. It's a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how technology is reshaping our future and how we can prepare for a post-work society. #EarlyEmu #ai Read full article: https://lnkd.in/gP6yf2Qz

Will AI Replace Our Jobs? Unpacking the Reality of Automation in Industry I am diving into a common concern: Will AI replace our jobs? It's a topic that stirs up a lot of speculation, especially with rapid advancements in technology. However, the integration of AI and machines in industries is often slower than anticipated. This lag isn't just about technological challenges; it's deeply rooted in human nature and our responses to change. While the fear of AI replacing jobs is prevalent, the real impact of AI in the workforce isn't about job elimination but transformation. In the long run, AI is unlikely to replace a significant portion of what we do in the foreseeable future. Instead, it's set to enhance our capabilities and open up new avenues for creative work. AI promises to make our work life more interesting and fun, shifting our roles rather than eliminating them. So, what does this mean for you? Whether you're in a heavy industry or a creative field, understanding the pace and nature of #AI adoption can help you better prepare for the future. Let's explore how AI is currently being integrated across various sectors and how it can be leveraged to enhance, not replace, human effort. Stay tuned as I uncover the exciting possibilities that AI brings to our professional lives. https://lnkd.in/eJnyvKKh

In a recent article, it was eloquently argued that AI's economic promise rests not just on innovation but on wide-scale adoption by firms outside the tech ecosystem. Remember, it took decades for tractors to be adopted widely enough to revolutionize American agriculture. Likewise, for AI to be a true game-changer, it has to permeate through various sectors, including small and medium-sized businesses. Our mission has always been to educate people and small businesses on the potential of AI, and this article underscores why that is so crucial. Without understanding and applying AI solutions comprehensively, we risk leaving a wealth of opportunities untapped, which could have ramifications not just for individual businesses but the broader economy. Is your company or employer, taking a look at AI solutions and automation? Let's not make the mistake of slow adoption. Education and proactive implementation are key to leveraging AI for long-term growth. #artificialintelligence #economicgrowth #artificialantics #SmallBusinesses Article Here: https://lnkd.in/gAd-SskM

The debate over jobs and technical progress in a way that remains relevant, especially given today’s fears over the impact of artificial intelligence. Impressive recent breakthroughs in generative #AI, smart robots, and driverless cars are again leading many to worry that advanced technologies will replace human workers and decrease the overall demand for labor. Some leading Silicon Valley techno-optimists even postulate that we’re headed toward a jobless future where everything can be done by AI. While today’s technologies certainly look very different from those of the 1930s, Compton’s article is a worthwhile reminder that worries over the future of jobs are not new and are best addressed by applying an understanding of economics, rather than conjuring up genies and monsters. https://lnkd.in/edehkVGS