I recently read an article on Happy Future Ai entitled: “AI’s Impact on Outmoded Creative Jobs“. The word “outmoded” in the title attracted my attention. Here is a summary of the article.
Summary of “AI’s Impact on Outmoded Creative Jobs”
- AI Integration in Creative Fields:
- AI tools are revolutionizing art, writing, music, and video editing by automating tasks traditionally done by humans. This has led to significant efficiency gains but also raised concerns about job displacement.
- Jobs at Risk:
- Low-quality, repetitive tasks like content mills, basic graphic design, and generic music composition are particularly vulnerable. AI can perform these tasks faster and cheaper, reducing the need for human labor.
- Shift to High-Quality Work:
- AI’s ability to handle mundane tasks allows human creatives to focus on more complex, innovative work, potentially enhancing overall creativity and content quality.
- Ethical Considerations:
- The displacement of workers by AI raises ethical issues such as job security and income inequality. It is crucial to address these challenges to ensure fair distribution of AI’s benefits.
- Reskilling and Adaptation:
- Investing in reskilling and upskilling programs is essential to help workers adapt to new roles requiring human creativity and emotional intelligence. Embracing AI as a tool rather than a threat can lead to new forms of creative expression and innovation.
For more details, you can visit the article (link).
Here are some of my thoughts:
My Thoughts on The Impact of AI
First, I was taken aback by the idea that certain jobs “perhaps shouldn’t exist in the first place”. Say what? If the jobs have no purpose, no one would be paying artists to perform those jobs. The debate is not about AI replacing workers in jobs that should not exist as the article states. That is a mischaracterization of the problem. Also see the PC magazine interview in of Mira Murati for a similar statement.
The article states “While the potential job losses are concerning, there is an argument to be made for the replacement of certain creative roles by AI. Some of these jobs, particularly those that involve repetitive and low-quality tasks, may not be fulfilling or necessary in the first place.” So it is OK to take someone’s job away because you think it is not fulfilling? AI is going to continue to whittle away at lower skill jobs, but let’s not try to make it seem more palatable because the jobs require less skill and have lower pay. Not everyone wants to do what is necessary to have a career with a higher-paying, “more fulfilling” position. I know programmers that “just want to code”. They have no interest in career advancement into “better” positions. Not everyone aspires to higher-paying, “more fulfilling” careers, and that’s okay.
Unfortunately, some jobs will be replaced by or minimized by AI. This kind of disruption happened in all of the 3 previous industrial revolutions and is happening in the 4th revolution we are experiencing today. When I was the CTO of a software contracting firm, we had some employees that just had no interest in updating their skillsets. The company provided every developer with a very generous training allowance. Some developers spent every penny but a few took advantage of almost nothing. That was their choice. When their contracts at their postings expired, we had nowhere to place them. The IT world had moved on. (Read: Key AI Trends Shaping 2024)
AI can more easily handle repetitive, mundane tasks than complex tasks that require more thought. Jobs that are composed of these tasks are those that will soon be replaced by automation. Creatives That do this type of work (such as the creation of content for commercial art and sound libraries or copywriting mills) are at risk. They are faced with a decision. How will they make themselves valuable to their employer or clients in this new age? They could choose learn the new technologies or to increase their level of skill. Consider that the work done by someone we might call a level one employee is more likely to be heavily impacted by AI than that of a level 3 employee. The latter will likely be able to leverage AI in their job (or business) to become more efficient and perhaps create a better work product. If someone chooses to take neither course of action, then they might need to change professions as the world moves on.
That brings up another point I would like to make about the article in question. The author quotes David Harris who states: “The benefits of AI must be shared equitably to prevent a widening of the income gap between high-skill and low-skill workers.” I agree to a point. However the ultimate the responsibility for keeping one’s skillset in line with the changing technical landscape belongs to the individual. Yes, some jobs will be replaced and some will be created. Our choices have both consequences and power. if you feel your job or business is threatened by AI, my advice is to find a way to embrace AI and make it your ally.
Some Hopeful Thoughts
There is no doubt that AI will replace some number of jobs in the creative field. If the past is any example for us, it will also add jobs, many of which might not yet be envisioned. Look at the previous industrial revolutions. They all eliminated many jobs and affected the way of life of millions of individuals around the world. In the end, new types of jobs were created. We moved from an agrarian society into an industrial one, from living on farms in the country to living in cities and working in factories. With advent of the assembly line and early automation, manufacturing jobs morphed into office jobs. These jobs changed again as the computer and Internet became the new reality. I believe the age of AI will see a similar shift. Time will tell.
In Summary
AI is changing the landscape of the creative world. Its intrusion into the marketplace is inevitable and there is no longer time to waste. I know change can be painful but if you own it and decide to take advantage of new opportunities, you may not only weather the storm, but perhaps you will thrive.
