Artificial Intelligence is rapidly developing. As a result, so many things can be done with little effort if you only understand AI and give a decent prompt, or you can just click a few buttons to use an AI tool.
AI helps us save time and money
Let me give you a quick personal example of that. I remember in 2016 (yeah, eight years ago) when I started in Web design, it took me about three to four hours on average to build a website. Today thanks to different AI tools, as long as I am not trying to create a complex website with unique custom functionalities, I only need 30 minutes. AI helps us save time.
It also helps us save money. I started in web design not because I wanted to become a web designer in the first place but because, for me, it was too expensive to pay someone to build me a website, on top of additional fees for hosting, plugins, and optimisation.
People who have the money to pay a freelancer or an agency are still doing it, but most of us would prefer to save money whenever possible. And today, AI allows us to do the job ourselves without spending much time trying to do it.
But not yet in all sectors
All that is about the benefits of AI for those of us who need the services, but what about those who offer these services? This is where the issue of how AI is about to affect the job market arises. The bad news is yes, AI will affect the demand for some talents. However, the good news is that not all job categories will be negatively affected. Or at least not yet. This is the case with blue-collar jobs.
Here are a few reasons why:
Physical nature of work
Many blue-collar jobs involve manual labour and physical tasks that are difficult for AI to replicate. Jobs requiring dexterity, spatial awareness, and adaptability to changing environments are less susceptible to immediate AI replacement.
Also Read: Singapore surpasses US in AI investment: Study
Need for human creativity, problem-solving, oversight, regulatory and safety concerns
Blue-collar roles often require creative thinking and complex problem-solving, which AI currently struggles with. For example, auto technicians need to diagnose and fix unique mechanical issues, while landscapers design custom outdoor spaces.
In industries where safety is critical, such as construction or manufacturing, there may be hesitancy to fully automate processes without extensive testing and regulatory approval.
Even as AI is integrated into blue-collar work, human workers will likely need to supervise, maintain, and work alongside AI systems in the foreseeable future.
Cost considerations
It’s expensive to implement advanced AI and robotics systems in blue-collar businesses. Many businesses, especially smaller ones, may not have the capital to optimise their operations with AI technology.
Don’t get me wrong, AI will undoubtedly come for some blue-collar jobs over time, but the factors I’ve just mentioned suggest that the transition will be more evolutionary than revolutionary. This gives workers, businesses, and policymakers time to adapt and prepare for the changing landscape of blue-collar work.
Let me know what you think about that.
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