Artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually taking over tasks that we once thought only humans could do. What does this mean for the future of work? Will AI liberate us or rob us of our meaning? And how can we prepare for a world where work may no longer be a central part of our lives?
Remember the feeling when you first learned about self-driving cars. Exciting, isn't it? But the question soon arose: what about all the truck and taxi drivers? A similar fate now befalls many professions that have hitherto been safe from automation. Thanks to artificial intelligence, the world of work is changing faster than we ever imagined.
Avital Balwit, head of Frontier AI at Anthropic, expressed concern in her recent reflection that the next three years could be her last years actually working. And this is not because she wants to retire, but because of the rapid progress of artificial intelligence, which threatens to leave many of us without traditional work.
How UI is changing the game
We are in an era where each new generation of AI models is becoming more and more capable and versatile. Artificial intelligence can already write, translate, analyze data, prepare tax returns and perform many other tasks that were once the domain of humans. There is no need for UI to become better than the best person in a particular field; it is enough that she is better than the average worker in this field to cause massive changes in the labor market.
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of this development, however, is this: UI is the automation of automation. This means that UI can not only perform the tasks that we normally do, but it can also automate the process of improvement and learning itself. This puts us at a unique turning point in history where we ask: will work still exist?
The psychology of work and what it means to be out of work
Work has long been more than just a means of earning money. It also gives us a sense of purpose, status and social inclusion. Numerous studies have shown that unemployment often leads to increased levels of anxiety, depression and poorer physical health. But is it actually related to the loss of work itself or to the loss of income and social status that work brings?
If everyone was out of work due to UI and had insurance at the same time universal basic income, the stigmatization of unemployment might be reduced. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw that those who were temporarily unemployed reported o lower level of stress as those who remained employed. Maybe the key is in a sense of shared experience and the fact that unemployment is no longer a personal failure, but the result of broader societal changes.
Which professions are safe (for now)?
Some occupations may continue to require the human touch. Therapy, spiritual guidance, care of children and the elderly are examples of work where not only technical performance is important, but also emotional connection and empathy. Balwit uses the term “nostalgic occupations” to describe works where the human element will always be valued, even if the UI is technically superior.
How to prepare for a future without work?
Instead of UI seen as a threat, we can accept it as an opportunity to transform our lives. This could mean starting to engage in activities that make us happy, regardless of whether we are the best at them. Researchers who are already preparing for post-UI future, emphasize the importance of focusing on things we do for joy, not need.
Additionally, it is important that we as a society talk about options like Universal Basic Income and how we can use UI to improve quality of life, rather than fearing its impact on employment.
Conclusion
The future of work is uncertain, but one thing is clear: artificial intelligence will change the way we live. Will we embrace this change with open arms and use it to shape a better society, or will we remain trapped in fear of the unknown? The answer to that question lies in our hands – and how we prepare for a future that is coming faster than we might think.
