I've been saying for some time that GenAI is likely to decimate the IT field (every role, with engineering leading the way and taking the biggest hit). This is by no means a new phenomenon. Beginning in the eighties, robots began replacing humans in automobile factories. Tons of misinformation was generated to prevent a revolt by human auto workers.
The content in italics below was generated by ChatGPT.
As car companies rolled out robotics and automation in their factories, they often employed several narratives to reassure employees and maintain calm. Some of these narratives were optimistic or misleading about the impact of automation on jobs. Here are some of the common things car companies told employees, which could be seen as "lies" or at least overly optimistic promises:
1. "Robots Will Not Replace You; They Will Assist You"
What They Said: Companies often framed the introduction of robots as a way to assist human workers, rather than replace them. They assured employees that robots would take over only the most mundane, repetitive, or dangerous tasks, allowing workers to focus on more engaging and valuable work.
Reality: In many cases, robots did replace human workers, especially in repetitive and precision-based tasks like welding, painting, and parts assembly. The promise that humans would only be "assisted" often turned out to be misleading as the automation rollout continued.
2. "Automation Will Create More Jobs Than It Eliminates"
What They Said: Car companies frequently promised that while some jobs might be lost initially, automation would eventually lead to the creation of new, higher-skilled jobs. The narrative was that new roles would emerge in programming, maintaining robots, and other high-tech areas.
Reality: While some new technical jobs were created, the number of jobs lost often far outweighed the number of new roles created. Many of the new jobs also required a significantly different skill set, leaving many existing employees unqualified without extensive retraining.
3. "We Will Retrain You for New Roles"
What They Said: Companies pledged to invest in retraining programs to help displaced workers gain new skills suited for the automated and digital age. Employees were assured that they would be given opportunities to learn new trades, such as robot maintenance, data analysis, or software development.
Reality: In practice, retraining programs were often limited, underfunded, or not adequately designed to help the majority of displaced workers transition smoothly into new roles. Moreover, not all workers could quickly or effectively transition to highly technical roles, leading to job losses despite the promises of retraining.
4. "Automation Will Lead to Higher Pay and Better Conditions"
What They Said: By integrating robotics, companies argued that the workforce would be more productive, leading to higher pay and better working conditions. The idea was that robots would handle the most labor-intensive work, improving overall job satisfaction for human workers.
Reality: While productivity may have increased, this did not always translate into higher wages or better working conditions for the remaining employees. In many cases, cost savings from automation were not shared with employees in the form of higher pay, and the remaining jobs often became more monotonous or focused on supervision and maintenance.
5. "Automation Ensures Job Security by Keeping Factories Competitive"
What They Said: Companies frequently argued that automation was necessary to keep factories competitive in the global market. By adopting robotics, they claimed they could keep costs down and prevent the need to shut down plants or move jobs overseas.
Reality: Despite automation efforts, many companies still faced financial pressures or chose to move operations to countries with lower labor costs. Automation did not always equate to job security; in fact, it sometimes accelerated job losses or factory closures.
6. "We Are Investing in Your Future"
What They Said: Companies framed automation as an investment in the future of the workforce, suggesting that by embracing technology now, workers would be better prepared for the evolving job market.
Reality: While this narrative was appealing, the reality was that many workers were left behind by the rapid pace of technological change, especially those who were older or less tech-savvy. The promised investments in the workforce’s future often didn't materialize in meaningful ways for many employees.
7. "The Transition Will Be Gradual"
What They Said: To avoid panic, companies often promised that the transition to automation would be gradual, giving employees ample time to adjust or prepare for new roles.
Reality: In many cases, the rollout of automation was quicker than initially communicated. Workers often found themselves facing sudden layoffs or significant shifts in their roles with little warning or preparation time.
I did some cursory validation on most of these points. It's not hallucination.
I'm sure senior executives are better informed and far less unethical than in the past.
Nothing to see here. Get back to you code editor.
Comments