911, What’s the Emergency?
Friend:
Was it a scam?
Kevin:
No. It's legit. It's the official MIT online course through a 3rd party called get "smarter". They are just not wanting to give me my damn certificate so l can add it to my resume and be able to find a freaking job in the Al field. Ugh.
I think God is sending me a message I should just quit working in the tech sector.
Too many roadblocks for no reason. 100% rejection rate of my resume.
Didn't get a single round of interview in the past 8 months.
The hiring landscape is drastically different from just 2 years ago where I had 3 rounds of interview after only applying to 30/50 jobs. Applied to 250: 0 positive response. We are going through a hiring freeze and a job crisis of the tech sector but the news is not talking about it. All companies are switching to Al, no needing to hire human workers anymore.
Friend:
I know. I can imagine. I haven't gotten an interview in like 6 months myself!
Kevin:
I only have a specific skillet. l've been a data analyst for 10 years. What am I suppose to be doing now?!
Friend:
I can imagine that would be so discouraging
Kevin:
Is the government aware of what's happening you think? I think they are totally clueless about what's happening in their own country they govern.
Quite alarming if you ask me.
Friend:
They are clueless about most things.
And what they do know, they don't care.
Kevin:
but this is going to impact the economy if people don't have jobs and we can't pay for products and services.
Friend:
It's extremely alarming.
Absolutely.
And everything is just becoming more expensive.
Yet in 15 years, the amount you get from EDD weekly has never changed.
Kevin:
Like the Chief of IMF stated back in January when she sounded the alarm that the labor market will be hit like a "tsunami" and that we are "highly unprepared" for it. Up to 60% of jobs in developed countries such as the United States could experience becoming completely obsolete. What was Joe Biden talking about during the Super Bowl? Shrinkflation? People not getting enjoy chips in the bag of chips they pay for? Like that's a big problem and a top priority. This country is becoming a joke.
You replied
Yet in 15 years, the amount you get from EDD weekly has never changed
Took me months to get a single penny from the state when I lost my 6-figure salary working in the tech sector and was making $0 from one day to the next
Friend:
I think a lot of countries see the US as a joke. It's the US that thinks they are amazing.
Kevin:
These government agencies are absolutely not equipped to deal with the current displacement of workers that's happening at an alarming rate (that the news is failing to report on by the way), yet alone the displacement of workers in the next few months to a year. We are headed towards the iceberg now and we are about to sink like the Titanic.
When the government could have avoided all of this by establishing rules and boundaries on Al and regulate it like they are doing back in Europe for instance. It is the Wild Wild West here as far as private companies can do and just let go of their employees like that. This is going to cost us.
Do you think this could potentially make us not only lose our 1st place as the worldwide economy but potentially make the country go into social unrest as people can't afford food and shelter?
60% of 167 million part of the workforce, that's a lot of millions of people that are about to struggle like I have been for the past 8 months of life unable to reenter the tech sector.
We have the 2nd amendment here. I am afraid people may soon pull their guns out to try to find food and survive. Like in the "Hunger Games" movie you know? Where the 1% live in "The Capitol" and we are all left behind starving to death kind of a thing
After all, Elon Musk said himself:
AI WILL NOT ONLY TAKE AWAY YOUR JOB, BUT ALSO THE MEANING OF LIFE.
ELON MUSK ON THE IMPACT OF AI ON THE MEANING OF LIFE, May 24th 2024
He needs to be regulated too not just Al. #RegulateElon (more details here)
Friend:
Is the USA 1st in anything?
Kevin:
It’s to wonder. Yes, 1st at not taking care of its own citizens.
In recent years, the job market has undergone a seismic shift, and not necessarily for the better. As companies rapidly adopt artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, human workers are finding themselves displaced at an alarming rate. Despite this, the response from government agencies and institutions has been woefully inadequate, leaving many to wonder: 911, what’s the emergency?
A Personal Struggle
My own journey into this chaotic landscape began with an MIT online course on the fundamentals of AI. Hoping to stay relevant and secure my place in the ever-evolving tech sector, I enrolled through a third-party provider. However, obtaining the certificate necessary to bolster my resume has proven to be a bureaucratic nightmare. Despite completing the course, the certificate remains out of reach, an emblem of the unnecessary roadblocks many of us face.
In a candid conversation with a friend, Tracy Lynne Stone, I expressed my frustration. "Is the government aware of what’s happening, you think?" I asked. "They are clueless about what’s happening in their own country they govern," she replied. Our discussion underscored a harsh reality: those in power seem disconnected from the ground-level impacts of AI on the workforce.
The Job Market Tsunami
The hiring landscape today is starkly different from just a few years ago. Back then, applying to 30 or 50 jobs might result in several interview rounds. Now, after applying to 250 jobs, I’ve received zero positive responses. This isn't just my story—it's a widespread phenomenon. We are amidst a hiring freeze and a job crisis in the tech sector, driven largely by the rapid switch to AI. Companies no longer see the need to hire human workers when AI can do the job faster and cheaper.
The Chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned earlier this year of a labor market "tsunami," predicting that up to 60% of jobs in developed countries could become obsolete. Despite this dire prediction, government responses remain tepid at best. The news fails to report on the displacement of workers, and policies to address the issue are non-existent.
The Titanic Analogy
As Tracy aptly put it, "We are headed towards the iceberg now and we are about to sink like the Titanic." Government agencies are ill-equipped to handle the displacement happening now, let alone the wave expected in the near future. The lack of foresight and action is akin to the Titanic's fateful encounter with the iceberg—a disaster everyone saw coming but failed to avoid.
This situation could have been prevented. European nations have established rules and boundaries on AI, regulating its implementation to safeguard jobs. In contrast, the U.S. operates like the Wild West, where private companies can make unilateral decisions to replace human employees with AI. This lack of regulation is setting the stage for an economic and social catastrophe.
A Looming Social Crisis
The potential fallout from unchecked AI integration extends beyond job loss. As millions struggle to reenter the workforce, social unrest looms on the horizon. If people can't afford basic necessities like food and shelter, we risk descending into chaos. The second amendment, which grants the right to bear arms, might soon see desperate people using guns to survive, reminiscent of dystopian scenarios in movies like "The Hunger Games."
Elon Musk himself has warned about AI's impact on jobs and the meaning of life, emphasizing the urgency of regulation. It's not just AI that needs oversight—figures like Musk, who spearhead these technological advances, must also be held accountable.
Conclusion
The current trajectory is unsustainable. Without immediate and effective regulation, the displacement of workers by AI will continue to escalate, leading to economic instability and potential social unrest. The government must wake up to the reality that their inaction is driving us toward an iceberg.
In the words of Tracy, "This country is becoming a joke." It's time for serious, proactive measures to address the AI-induced job crisis before it's too late.
It's crucial for each of us to raise our voices, share our stories, and demand change. Together, we can steer the ship away from disaster and towards a future where technology enhances human potential rather than replaces it.
#DemandEthicalAI #VoiceForChange
