# Navigating the AI Revolution: Protecting Jobs in an Uncertain Future

In the midst of exponential technological advancements, one thing becomes glaringly clear: The rapid advance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace has the potential to create a “permanent underclass.” The idea that we might be pushed into such a category, living in the shadows of technological progression, feels both unnerving and inevitable. But this outcome isn’t set in stone. History has shown us the path to counteract such drastic changes, and it lies in collective action — particularly unionization.

## The Looming Threat of AI

OpenAI’s Leopold Aschenbrenner has warned that AI will match or surpass human capabilities by 2027. This advancement could make programmers — and others across various fields — redundant. Nate Soares, co-author of “If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies,” echoes this notion, arguing that reliance on work is not sustainable in the long run. As AI seeps into sectors previously secure from automation, worry spreads among professionals: math tutors, cinematographers, brand strategists, journalists, and many more.

There’s a jarring discomfort in knowing that this shift isn’t a new phenomenon. Throughout history, several industries have fallen at the feet of advancing technologies, leaving workers displaced — from the agrarian stablehands of yesteryear to today’s retail clerks replaced by apps and automated systems.

## Lessons from History

Spinning jennies, combine harvesters, electrification, trains, the advent of cars, and computers: all have devastated specific industries. My own family, engulfed in this cycle, moved from stablehands to retail clerking as industries evolved and declined. The narrative isn’t unique. It’s a reflection of repeated patterns throughout our collective history.

Yet, each technological shake-up has come with opportunities for resilience and adaptation. The Japanese carmaking unions in the 1970s, for example, fought for job security and retraining during automation. Similarly, Australian nurses in the 1980s negotiated to enhance their skills through tertiary training as technology redefined their roles.

Today, we witness a similar fight, such as the Writers Guild of America’s 2023 strike. Their success ensured that writers wouldn’t be replaced by generative AI but could choose to use it as a tool, highlighting the industry’s potential for malleability and adaptation rather than obsolescence.

## The Intractable March of AI and Economic Reality

Despite the fears surrounding AI’s inevitability and omnipresence, it is neither unstoppable nor economically sustainable as some might suggest:

– **AI Data Centers**: While the construction of these data centers has increased, their physical depreciation occurs rapidly and significantly. Harris “Kuppy” Kupperman from Praetorian Capital notes that no one truly understands the financial viability when considering such rapid depreciation.

– **Investor Concerns**: Over 50% of Bank of America survey respondents believe AI stocks to be a bubble, bolstered by the Bank of England’s warnings of a potential “sudden correction” in the market.

– **Technical Challenges**: Research from MIT found that 95% of corporate clients saw little to no return on AI initiatives, while Carnegie Mellon University reported a 70% failure rate of AI in completing basic tasks. Moreover, many companies that replaced employees with AI now regret it, as found by TechRepublic.

The claim that embracing AI equates to embracing inevitability is, as paraphrased by a prominent critic, an industrial myth.

## Finding Hope in the Face of AI Advancements

This doesn’t mean we should resign ourselves to the sideline. If history tells us anything, it’s that we have the capability to prevent technologies from dismantling our livelihoods without due consideration for the workforce.

As technology continues to expand its influence, one must question: How do we redefine work in a world where AI and automation are commonplace? How do we ensure progress does not come at the expense of human value and dignity?

By forming coalitions, advocating for fair labor practices, and pushing for education and training that complement technological advances, society can redefine industrial relations for a future where AI complements rather than competes against human potential.

The onus now lies on industries and individuals alike to decide not only what kind of future we want but what kind of future we demand to build together. Without question, the challenge is not only to harness the technological potential of AI but to do so in a way that lifts everyone rather than creating barriers that divide us further.