We are entering another era(or we are there in some way), where people are divided on the necessity of machines or the blatant erasure of humaness by the machines. I recall Mr. Finchley from season 2 of the Twilight Zone, displaying intense hate of machines, until his machines went bonkers , waking him in the middle of the night, leaving him with the eerie feeling his machines were plotting against him.
I guess anyone would think that if their typewriter spells the words: GET OUT OF HERE.
Then there’s Asimov’s I, Robot series, and the popular film I, Robot starring Will Smith — where the machines become sentient and plot against us soft skinned humans.
It makes me wonder: Is this what we’re imagining when we rail against those using ChatGPT to give them dieting tips? Is it this fear of machine take over when we realize in sudden collective horror, that machines can write, draw, and automate tasks better and faster than we can? These machines may not (let’s hope not), tell us to get out, but instead can put us out of a job, running us mad like Mr. Finchley?
Personally, I don’t have a sense of fear of AI as others do. I did not know of ChatGPT and other AI models until the year before last, but I am always a fan of working smarter and not harder. So no, I don’t fear AI doing much of the tasks that makes us bored anyway — and before you roll your eyes, I do know that automated tasks can force people out of a job. I think that is scarier than a typewriter mouthing off, or appliances chasing us down hallways. We need to work to pay bills and have a lifestyle. How can we if sleek, sexy AI models are taking all the jobs?
The question I’ve been asking myself lately is: What jobs exactly can/will AI take from the human?
So, I did the right thing and went right to the horse’s mouth.
I asked ChatGPT.
“What jobs will AI take over in the future?”
The answer was predictable, but some parts of it would be staggering for the Mr. Finchley’s of the world.
Jobs in the near future, AI will replace:
- Data Entry Clerks
- Telemarketers
- Retail Checkout Clerks (self-checkout + AI cameras)
- Receptionists (AI chatbots & virtual assistants)
- Warehouse/Factory Workers (robotics + vision AI)
For now, when it comes to programming, content writing and graphic designing, AI serves only as co-creator. However, further into the future AI may replace teachers, drivers, and financial advisors, among others.
Still. I am not afraid, because AI is not something that can replace me. It can, however…serve me. It allows me to be more creative. More human.
Let me explain.
I create tall tales. I write poetry. I create content.
In my journals at home, I write all my woes, my triumphs, my wins, and lists of topics to explore — on paper. I then sit my brown butt at my desk and begin to write. I write, plan, write, plan, then write some more. That is ALL me, and only me. No need for AI.
However, I suck at marketing, using appropriate hashtags, and in creating newsletters.
I can solve this riddle in one of two ways:
First, I can consult someone to do these tasks for me. Of course, it will cost money. Something plenty of us are short on.
Second, I can Google how to market my work, how to promote on social media, and how to create a newsletter. I can even take a brief course in it(or pay $2,009.00 for a marketing kit offered by some “guru”).
Now, to be fair, I have paid book designers and left tip money to photographers on Pexels and Pixabay. I will continue to do so from time to time. These days, I keep a tab up for ChatGPT, whom I lovingly call, “Linda”. It does the task of research and hashtag hunting while I’m free to be me.
As you can see, I don’t completely depend on AI, because where would that leave me?
Sure, there are people using AI for darn near everything, probably even for how to dress for the day(maybe I can use it for that too, Lord knows I need the help), but I simply see AI as the free assistant I never had. Just there to assist — nothing more. I can now free my mind to create and develop my own skills, knowing if I need assistance with press releases or social media marketing, I can consult “Linda” and spare my brain cells.
Using artificial intelligence isn’t replacing my creativity — it’s releasing it.
Thank you for reading!
Erica writes about the myths we are sold about work, success, and survival- and what's really behind them. She also churns out stories and poetry that pretty much reflects the same thing. Sign up for more pieces like this, delivered fresh to your inbox.
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