Latest Advocacy Efforts to Safeguard Human Rights and Societal Well-Being: A Call to Action on AI Workforce Displacement
In my ongoing mission to safeguard human rights and societal well-being, I have recently shared the results of my six-month data research on the impact of AI and automation on the workforce with President Joe Biden and all 535 members of the U.S. Congress. My research highlights the urgent need for immediate governmental intervention to prevent widespread job displacement and economic instability. Here, I provide a concise summary of the key points from my email to our nation's leaders.
Key Points from My Research
Job Losses Outpacing Job Creation:
In the tech sector, job losses have consistently exceeded job creation. For instance, January 2024 saw only 2,300 jobs added compared to 7,200 jobs lost.
Increasing Number of Displaced Workers:
The number of displaced tech workers reentering the job market has been steadily rising, with 7,800 displaced workers in June 2024 alone, intensifying competition for available positions.
Impact of AI Technologies:
AI tools like the "Dream Machine" by Luma AI Inc. are capable of creating content from text for free, posing a significant threat to millions of jobs in content creation and related fields.
Economic and Social Implications:
Without robust government intervention, the unchecked adoption of AI could lead to an unprecedented economic downturn and potential social unrest as millions of Americans face unemployment and financial instability.
Urgent Need for Governmental Intervention
The data underscores the critical need for the U.S. government to take immediate action to regulate AI technologies. Similar to the proactive measures being implemented in Europe, establishing clear guidelines and safeguards is essential to protect American jobs, ensure economic stability, and maintain our nation's position as a global leader.
My Personal Journey
As a data analyst with a decade of experience, I have personally witnessed the rapid advancement of AI technologies. Despite my qualifications and continuous efforts to stay relevant through courses like MIT's AI fundamentals, I have faced a 100% rejection rate for job applications over the past eight months due to market saturation and companies' increasing reliance on AI.
Call to Action
I urge President Biden and all members of Congress to recognize the imminent crisis posed by unregulated AI technologies and take decisive action to safeguard our workforce and societal well-being. The time to act is now, before the effects of unchecked AI adoption become irreversible.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. Let us work together to ensure a future where technology serves to enhance, rather than undermine, human rights and societal well-being.
Letter to the President of the United States, Joe Biden
Subject: Immediate Action Needed on AI Workforce Displacement to Prevent Economic and Social Crisis
Dear President Biden,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to urgently address critical issues I have uncovered in my recent research on the workforce and hiring landscape, particularly within the tech sector, which is currently experiencing a significant hiring freeze. If immediate action is not taken to regulate artificial intelligence (AI)—similar to the approaches being implemented in Europe—millions of American jobs could be at risk due to the unrestrained use of AI by private companies.
Tech Sector Jobs: Added vs. Lost and Displaced Workers Entering Market
In a recent Forbes article titled "Still Struggling To Find A Job? Here's Why It Is So Hard," the challenges facing job seekers in the current labor market are highlighted. The article explains that over 70% of job seekers believe the labor market is not conducive to finding new employment. It also notes that the global hiring duration has reached an all-time high, averaging about 43 days. Various factors contribute to this challenging environment, including geopolitical concerns, supply chain disruptions, high inflation, and interest rates.
The tech industry, in particular, has experienced a reversal of previously favorable employment trends, with layoffs since mid-2022 as part of a market correction. Companies are now adjusting staffing levels to align with current revenue and growth projections. The competitive white-collar job market, coupled with companies redirecting resources towards AI projects, has further complicated the hiring process. This situation, combined with market saturation due to tech companies streamlining their operations with AI, underscores the overall difficulties in the hiring environment.
Key Data from My Research
Over the past 12 months, my research leveraging data analytics has uncovered alarming trends in the tech sector:
Jobs Added vs. Lost: Each month, the number of jobs lost in the tech sector consistently outpaces the number of jobs added. For instance, in January 2024, only 2,300 jobs were added while 7,200 were lost.
Displaced Workers: The number of displaced tech workers reentering the market each month has been steadily increasing. By June 2024, 7,800 displaced tech workers were reentering the market, exacerbating the competition for available positions.
This data highlights a significant imbalance, with job losses outstripping job creation and an increasing number of displaced workers struggling to find employment.
Urgent Need for Governmental Intervention
The unchecked adoption of AI technologies across various industries is rapidly displacing human workers. For example, tools like the recently released "Dream Machine" by Luma AI Inc. can create video content from text for free, potentially rendering 2,740,000 jobs in content creation and related fields obsolete. This single tool, coupled with other similar ones such as "Sora" by OpenAI, Sam Altman's company, and "Veo" by Google, which have yet to be released to the public, could account for $242 billion in wages no longer needed to pay workers to create content.
The broader implications for the workforce are dire. Without robust government intervention, we risk an unprecedented economic downturn and potential social unrest as millions of Americans face unemployment and financial instability.\
The Chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, raised the alarm back in January of this year, stating that AI and automation could impact 40% of the global workforce and up to 60% in most advanced economies. She recently stated that AI will hit the labor market like a "tsunami" and that "We have very limited time to get people ready for it."
My Personal Struggle and Professional Background
As a data analyst with a decade of experience, I have personally witnessed the rapid advancement of AI technologies. Since November 2023, I have been unable to reenter the tech sector due to market saturation and companies' increasing reliance on AI to streamline operations. Despite my qualifications and continued efforts to stay relevant through courses like MIT's AI fundamentals, I have faced a 100% rejection rate for job applications over the past eight months.
Call to Action
I urge you to take immediate and decisive action to regulate AI technologies, similar to the proactive measures being implemented in Europe. Establishing clear guidelines and safeguards will protect American jobs, ensure economic stability, and maintain our nation's position as a global leader.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I look forward to your prompt response and action to address the imminent crisis posed by unregulated AI technologies.
Sincerely,
Kevin Bihan-Poudec
Founder of Voice For Change Foundation | Advocating for Ethical AI, Workforce Preservation, and Human Rights
Condensed message sent to President Joe Biden to fit the 2,000 character limit:
