AI is coming for jobs — just not blue collar ones, yet

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In a recent podcast discussing artificial intelligence, Geoffrey Hinton made the straightforward recommendation to “train to be a plumber.”

Nobel Prize-winning computer scientist Hinton, who is frequently referred to as the “Godfather of AI,” stated in June what has been said for years: Manual labor and expertise-based jobs are the least susceptible to modern technology compared to some other career paths, many of which have historically been seen as more respectable and profitable.

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According to Hinton, plumbers are less vulnerable. A paralegal or legal assistant, for example, won’t be needed for very long.

Technologists and tradesmen are promoting skilled professions as providing better long-term job security for workers who can accomplish what computers cannot, despite the sharp rise of artificial intelligence and the development of sophisticated robotics.

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Writing, customer service and sales agents, interpreters, and historians were the most popular occupations. Manual laborers such as roofers, rail and dredge operators, workers who remove hazardous materials, and painters were among the occupations deemed safe. Phlebotomists and nursing aides were also seen as safe in the medical field.

Many manual labor positions are expected to endure for a long time as AI develops.

According to Tony Spagnoli, director of testing and education for North American Technician Excellence, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization for HVAC, air conditioning, and refrigeration technicians, automation poses little threat to these jobs because they require manual equipment installation, and many of those who perform this work are nearing retirement. AI is incapable of making impromptu judgments or replacing pieces.

So does the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It predicts that employment opportunities in a range of trades will increase over the next several years, especially as entry-level positions for recent college graduates remain stagnant.

There is a lot of hoopla about AI taking jobs, and although the US labor market has started to falter, there is little concrete proof that AI is causing job losses. Even software experts, who are thought to be especially vulnerable because AI can write computer code, appear to be largely unaffected.

However, many believe that the impact of AI-related job shortages will be severe in the near future.

In a blog post released on Wednesday, Goldman Sachs stated that if artificial intelligence (AI) is broadly adopted, it might displace 6–7% of the US workforce. However, the impact might be temporary as individuals find new employment.

The concept has been enough to cause some people to reevaluate their futures, regardless of whether AI ends up replacing many occupations. Last month, the online tool Resume Builder published a study of over 1,400 members of Generation Z to find out how their career pathways were being shaped by financial strains, growing educational expenses, and worries about artificial intelligence.

One of the main conclusions was that 42% of respondents, many of whom had college degrees, were either employed in or seeking employment in a skilled craft or blue-collar occupation. Avoiding student loan debt and lowering the possibility of being supplanted by AI were their main driving forces.

Regardless of school level, Gen Z males were more likely than women to pursue blue-collar jobs, and for Gen Zers without a degree, blue-collar work provided a route to financial security without the burden of student loans.

According to a survey by Resume Builder’s top career consultant, Stacie Haller, more Gen Z college graduates are choosing trade occupations, and with good cause. Although trade jobs provide manual labor that is challenging to automate, many are worried that AI will replace established white-collar positions. Furthermore, a lot of graduates discover that their degrees do not lead to jobs in their industry, which encourages them to look into more useful, in-demand alternatives.

However, these jobs may also be threatened by AI. Humanoid machines, task-specific robots, and artificial intelligence (AI) are all examples of mechanical automation advancements that are catching up to humans.

According to Andrew Reece, chief AI scientist at BetterUP, an online platform that partially supports professional growth with AI-powered tools, robotics is really on the rise. It may take some time to figure out the sophisticated tasks, but it will begin to replace entry-level employment like operating moving equipment and driving vehicles.

However, advancements in robotics fall far short of a device that can take the place of a human in the actual world. The majority of AI is still mostly educated on textual material, which leaves it with little to no comprehension of the outside world. Furthermore, there is still much work ahead for the robots themselves.

There is a widespread misperception that humanoid robots will soon essentially replace workers. Ken Goldberg, head of the Robot Learning Foundation at the University of California, Berkeley, stated, “I think that’s a myth.” Things are moving slowly forward.

Additionally, there is ample opportunity for tradespeople to collaborate with AI and robotics, leaving the most delicate and difficult tasks for those who have spent years honing their craft.

Although the automobile industry is relying on new technology to identify issues with cars, it does not anticipate that mechanics will be replaced by robots.

According to Matt Shepanek, vice-president of credential testing programs at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, it may eventually aid in problem diagnosis, but auto parts testing and replacement are always necessary.

You will still require a person to carry out the physical action.

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