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Nearly 25,000 tech workers were laid off in the first weeks of 2024. Why is that? (www.npr.org)

submitted 5 months ago by L4s to c/technology

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Nearly 25,000 tech workers were laid off in the first weeks of 2024. Why is that?::undefined

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I think another thing that isn’t being talked about with these layoffs, which would call for more unionization and policy making, is that “AI” is taking over these jobs.

Also when companies merge, there are “redundant” employees. So like the recent Microsoft layoffs, those were going to happen.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Surely. AI is definitely a factor. But at the same time it's a fad right now. It's what Blockchain was a few years ago. Everyone is trying to jump into the AI bandwagon as it's the new cool hip thing. Sadly unlike Blockchain this is getting people fired instead of getting hired.

Even though AI creates remarkable results I don't think it's as mature enough as companies really think it's to be. They are kinda gambling on that it will be able to cover the human work force before the effects of layoffs are felt by the customers.

On that account I think the number one issue is about the cost, uninformed companies think that what they are paying today is the real cost of AI. But in reality all AI offerings are actually burning money to lure customers, to make them get rid of their workforce to get them really dependent on their AI. And when they achieve enough dependency the prices will increase, then the companies will see the real cost of AI. Basically the exact same thing that happened with Streaming Services.

Another downside that people will notice after great adoption of AI may be that the variations of the results will start to look the same. If all of us use the same AI tool, giving similar prompts for our Ad campaign then most likely our Ad campaigns will look very similar, beating the most important necessity of an Ad campaign; recognition. To beat that AI should be used as a tool by capable people to ease their job and not to do their entire job.

I think it will take a few years for companies to really realize that.