The Future of Work: A Dystopian Reality?

The Future of a job under 15 minutes

In his book "Bullshit Jobs: A Theory," (2018) David Graeber argues that many jobs in the service sector exist not out of economic necessity, but as a means of maintaining hierarchical power structures. And as advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology continue to develop, it seems that the number of "bullshit jobs" may only continue to increase.

Research by McKinsey in 2012 revealed that white-collar workers spend nearly 28% of their time reading and responding to emails, a task that could easily be automated by AI. Furthermore, with the use of AI language models like ChatGPT, tasks like content creation and customer service could also be outsourced to machines. This would undoubtedly lead to increased efficiency and productivity, but at what cost to human workers?

15-hour workweek

Economist John Maynard Keynes predicted in 1930 that technological advancements would lead to a 15-hour workweek, but that vision has yet to be realized. Instead, the rise of the gig economy has led to increased job insecurity and the need to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. The supposed benefits of technological advancements have largely gone to the elite few, while the majority of workers continue to toil away at meaningless jobs, sacrificing their mental health and well-being in the process.

Job security in the Tech sector

And as we enter into 2023, the tech sector has already begun to feel the impact of this dystopian reality. Companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon have already implemented significant job cuts in the wake of the pandemic, leaving many skilled workers without job security or financial stability. This trend is likely to continue as AI and automation become increasingly ubiquitous in the workplace.

UBI As Graeber suggests, a potential solution to this bleak reality may lie in the implementation of a universal basic income (UBI), allowing people the freedom to pursue creative activities and work at their own leisure. However, the current political climate seems far from implementing such a radical change, leaving many to wonder if we will ever be able to break free from the cycle of meaningless work.

To summarize, as AI technology continues to advance, it is important to consider the human cost of increased efficiency and productivity. The idea of a 15-hour workweek may remain a pipe dream, but we must strive to create a future where work is meaningful and fulfilling, rather than simply a means of survival.