AI Researcher Urges Balanced Views on Meta Layoffs and Job Impacts
Directly or indirectly at least in the interim (and it's unclear for how long) it is causing massive disruption to white collar jobs & a ton of mental stress for many. AI bulls should not downplay this impact. 2/
Anshul Kundaje@anshulkundajeSorry to all the folks at Meta who lost their jobs. Tough times. Claiming AI will result in an amazing job boom or the opposite that they will completely destroys all jobs are both extreme positions. 1/
It's also severely affecting students at early stages of their careers. I particularly feel bad for the typical MS degree students in CS & other areas that are most disrupted by AI. These students got caught in this sudden transition. 3/
Anshul Kundaje@anshulkundajeDirectly or indirectly at least in the interim (and it's unclear for how long) it is causing massive disruption to white collar jobs & a ton of mental stress for many. AI bulls should not downplay this impact. 2/
AI companies are also IMO not doing their part to help folks "upgrade". Companies that are actively downsizing due to AI or using it as an excuse, don't really care about the workforce they are letting go. 6/
Anshul Kundaje@anshulkundajeAI obviously has immense potential to upgrade all humans. But this is not trivial especially for folks with busy, struggling lives who don't have the time, finances or bandwidth to "upgrade". This transition is incredibly rapid & the system is not smoothly absorbing the shock. 5/
AI obviously has immense potential to upgrade all humans. But this is not trivial especially for folks with busy, struggling lives who don't have the time, finances or bandwidth to "upgrade". This transition is incredibly rapid & the system is not smoothly absorbing the shock. 5/
Anshul Kundaje@anshulkundajeMany take loans etc to try to acquire these degrees to level up or transition fields (I did this years ago moving from EE to compbio). It used to be a pretty reliable path. But not any more. 4/
Many take loans etc to try to acquire these degrees to level up or transition fields (I did this years ago moving from EE to compbio). It used to be a pretty reliable path. But not any more. 4/
Anshul Kundaje@anshulkundajeIt's also severely affecting students at early stages of their careers. I particularly feel bad for the typical MS degree students in CS & other areas that are most disrupted by AI. These students got caught in this sudden transition. 3/
Sure. It's always been survival of the fittest. Those who don't adapt perish etc. But this transition is not going to be smooth the way things are going. And I'm afraid it will result in massive backlash against a technology that has immense potential for good. 7/
Anshul Kundaje@anshulkundajeAI companies are also IMO not doing their part to help folks "upgrade". Companies that are actively downsizing due to AI or using it as an excuse, don't really care about the workforce they are letting go. 6/
I'm not remotely an expert on frontier AI, economics, history or capitalism etc. My perspective is based on what I'm seeing around me with real people. We can argue the extremes or we can do things to help most people traverse these unstable times to a brighter future 8/
Anshul Kundaje@anshulkundajeSure. It's always been survival of the fittest. Those who don't adapt perish etc. But this transition is not going to be smooth the way things are going. And I'm afraid it will result in massive backlash against a technology that has immense potential for good. 7/
Thoughts, pushback, ideas, any suggestions for thoughtful readings on this topic are welcome. 9/9
Anshul Kundaje@anshulkundajeI'm not remotely an expert on frontier AI, economics, history or capitalism etc. My perspective is based on what I'm seeing around me with real people. We can argue the extremes or we can do things to help most people traverse these unstable times to a brighter future 8/