AI = New incoming wave of unemployment?

More people do less, they just don't know how to do more

[explorador]

Hi webmasters, first, I want to make clear that I don't enjoy artificial intelligence discussions, because most of them talk about magic, low effort income, fantastic speculation, supposedly getting access to high paying jobs doing "nothing", and paranoia about loosing jobs.

A bit of the loosing jobs sounds real to me, but not for the reasons people talk about.

There is a big local Reddit branch (I mean, about the country where I live) that has become plagued with AI topics, and most of them dream (or say) it's possible to make tons of money with AI, but naturally there is no substance, it's just people who can barely read and write.

Many of them see AI as a direct threat and cause for loosing their jobs, thinking they will be replaced.

But... Most of them can't see how bad they read/write and the lack of skills, you can see them mentioning the use of IA to make short versions of everything they need, composing messages, writing (because "writing is boring"), and they even explain how they apologized to their GF or crush asking some AI to create a moving letter that didn't work. Whenever someone points out life doesn't work like that, they get angry and reply in full aggressive mode.

Something weird started happening, repeating, like a pattern: people asking questions to humans after their failed attempts using AI. Wow, that's quite interesting.

I mention this here because of a direct relationship with Adsense issues and failures: many years ago lots of people made money with Adsense, some a bit, some made a lot. But then, as the webmaster trade went down and Adsense earnings almost vanished, lots of people here complained about not being able to make similar amounts of money or just anything they could call earnings.

↑↑↑ In that context, several times I asked them why not writing? or doing photo editing? or illustrations? graphic design? after all, making a full website on your own involves all those skills and more, but all those comment were left ignored. I know people in that context locally, and the problem is: they don't have skills. After some digging, turns out their websites were built stealing content, images, drawings and designs.

So, naturally, if you don't know how to dance, nobody is going to pay a dime.

I see this as the main future reason for loosing jobs or failure to get a job, because today people seem less able and skilled.

[not2easy]

I have to say that you're right about the level of effort people expect to need for getting work, or even for managing their own success or failure. The most important first skill is properly learning to read and comprehend the content that is read. My older sister taught me to read very early, a few years before starting school anyway. She held 'classes' for myself and my brother and I credit her help with all aspects of my learning. If you read and can't summarize what you've just read, it takes more effort.

I had trouble with printing (paper and pencil) some of my letters backwards and she brought out an ancient box of Anagrams letters to help me understand that I can't just draw a likeness of a letter, it has to be done so that others can recognize what you've written. Elementary, but it made a leap in my understanding. You can study just about any subject, but if you aren't able to digest what you've read, it doesn't stick with you.

I don't read nearly as much today as I have generally over my life, (too busy) but I still prefer to read an article than to watch a video about the topic. I know, backward, but I will always have more time than bandwidth.

Your thread about Most people don't read anymore --> [webmasterworld.com...] is so true, and it makes life a lot harder than it should be.

[lucy24]

I had trouble with printing (paper and pencil) some of my letters backwards

<topic drift after confirming this is foo>
I sometimes think what a cognitive adjustment this must have been for humans in centuries past. If you can't tell that that's the same tree no matter what angle you're seeing it from, or recognize a Smilodon * whether in left or right profile, there's something fundamentally amiss with your brain, possibly affecting your chances of survival. But in writing it's the opposite: left, right, up, down are all significant.
</td>

* I finally thought to look it up. A smilê is a knife. Figures.

[Kendo]

I still prefer to read an article than to watch a video

When reading an article, you are the director in control. Most video today is overcast with horrible soundtrack and difficult to understand dialogue. Narrating is an art - see David Attenborough.

Also, when reading a script, the actors aren't continually nodding and shaking their head every time they speak, or gazing into each others eyes forever and a day while industrial noise numbs the senses.

[explorador]

not2easy: The most important first skill is properly learning to read and comprehend the content that is read

YES. Like you, I also learned how to write and read quite early, my dad took care of that, and I reached school reading fluidly.

What you mention here is really important and very evident nowadays (as a problem). Recently I signed up for a design contest, besides the design aspect, it's quite easy, basically: fill the form with your personal data, no kids (only adults) for the prize legal purposes, and... that's it.

However, there are lots of comments complaining by the complexity of filling the form!, some even say it's designed to scare people away... ok, like... HOW? lots also say the instructions are not clear, or that the whole thing discriminates against children. And the vast majority of comments repeat the same: info, info, send me information, how to participate?, and some sent designs directly to the comment section (designs that have absolutely nothing to do with the contest). They really seem to be mentally... can I say retarded? subnormal?

This reminded me some DEV conversations about how dumb people can be, because in several experiences, we noticed how on the simple login page with already given user name and password (corporate), they typed their email user and password. Seems made up, it's not.

[explorador]

lucy24: I sometimes think what a cognitive adjustment this must have been for humans in centuries past. If you can't tell that that's the same tree no matter what angle you're seeing it from, or recognize a Smilodon * whether in left or right profile, there's something fundamentally amiss with your brain, possibly affecting your chances of survival

I knew very little about this, until started doing editing work (writing) for academic papers and books, etc., and it's amazing how people confuse not only letters, but also entire words leading to absolutely insane interpretations.

These days, this usually leads to online fights about things you or someone else never said. In nature? in the past? they could have been... b***aded... you know, executed, or kicked out from their tribes / communities. Not only that... I often feel concerned about the mistakes people can make when reading - interpreting - giving advice about a medication, why? because they can't read, and then they can't understand.

[explorador]

not2easy: I still prefer to read an article than to watch a video about the topic. I know, backward

Not at all. Reading is really better, superior... even if sometimes watching a video feels better.

I have noticed during conversations how people basically say "I watched some video about some guy saying something about oranges... like, how it's good to drink the juice but it's better like... to eat like..." <--- they really can't provide information. Reading? people may remember more, or less, but whatever they remember is more concise or precise.

Besides, people save bookmarks about articles and it's easier to locate the info. Video? not so much, most people can't locate the info on the vids because it requires remembering the position and context.

Kendo: When reading an article, you are the director in control. Most video today is overcast with horrible soundtrack and difficult to understand dialogue. Narrating is an art - see David Attenborough.

nailed it!

[Kendo]

All of my solutions come with a user-guide that provides step by step instructions with screenshots. Yet I still get requests for an "explainer video".

Replying to them would only be a waste of my time.