Chat GPT: The Over-Hyped Threat to Skilled Labor and the Ignored Threat to Unskilled Labor
The recent launch of OpenAI’s Chat GPT has generated a heated debate about its impact on the “skilled” labor market. On one hand, there are concerns that it may threaten job positions at the top of the labor pyramid, particularly in areas such as consulting and research. On the other hand, it is argued that automation and AI can improve efficiency and free workers from repetitive and dangerous tasks at the bottom of the pyramid. However, while the media has been quick to jump on the former narrative, the latter is often neglected, despite having the potential to put millions of jobs at risk.
One example of this is the growing trend of autonomous vehicles. The development of self-driving cars is a hot topic, and its impact on the employment of drivers is widely discussed. Yet, despite being one of the most significant technological advancements of our time, it receives little media attention compared to the highly publicized Chat GPT.
Autonomous vehicles pose a real and imminent threat to the livelihood of millions of drivers. This is not a hypothetical scenario; in 2018, a self-driving truck made the first commercial delivery without a human driver. In the future, autonomous trucks could replace human drivers, putting millions of jobs at risk. However, while the media focuses on the potential threat of Chat GPT to white-collar jobs, the threat to blue-collar jobs is largely ignored.
The emergence of Chat GPT and autonomous vehicles highlights a larger issue in the technology debate — the unequal representation of the interests of different parts of the labor pyramid. The top of the pyramid is represented by highly skilled and highly paid jobs, while the bottom is represented by low-skilled and low-paid jobs. The media focuses on the former, while the latter is often ignored.
The unequal representation of different parts of the labor pyramid in the technology debate is a symptom of a broader problem in society. Society often prioritizes the interests of the wealthy and the powerful over those of the less fortunate. This is reflected in the technology debate, where the interests of the highly skilled are prioritized over the interests of the less skilled.
However, this imbalance in the technology debate is not just a matter of social justice. The impact of technology on the labor market is far-reaching, and it is essential to have a balanced and informed discussion about its impact. The outcome of this discussion will have a significant impact on what technology we choose to implement and what we choose not to.
The impact of technology on the labor market is complex, and it is not always straightforward. The automation of low-skilled jobs can lead to job losses, but it can also lead to the creation of new jobs. The impact of Chat GPT on the labor market will depend on how it is implemented, and how society responds to its impact.
The launch of Chat GPT and the development of autonomous vehicles highlight the importance of having a balanced and informed discussion about technology and its impact on the labor market. The unequal representation of the interests of different parts of the labor pyramid in the technology debate is a symptom of a broader problem in society, and it is essential to address this imbalance in order to ensure a just and prosperous future for all workers. The impact of technology on the labor market is complex, and it is essential to have a balanced and informed discussion about its impact in order to ensure a just and prosperous future for all of us.
