The Uncomfortable Truth About AI at Work: How to Push Back and Create Change.
As an AI engineer, you're not alone in feeling like you're being pressured into adopting new technologies without adequate consideration for the potential consequences. But what if this "AI push" is not just a minor annoyance, but a symptom of a larger issue - one that requires collective action to address?
You've expressed concerns about the adoption of AI, particularly generative AI, in your workplace. Your worries are valid: who benefits from this technology, and at what cost? As you consider whether to speak out, remember that your individual voice may not be enough.
Instead, think about building a coalition with colleagues who share your concerns. Together, you can create a collective force that demands more thoughtful AI adoption in the workplace. This approach is supported by experts like Sarah Myers West, co-executive director of the AI Now Institute, who notes that unions have been successful in setting terms for AI use in various industries.
If unionization isn't an option at your workplace, consider joining organizations like the Algorithmic Justice League or Fight for the Future, which push for equitable and accountable tech. You can also participate in grassroots groups like Stop Gen AI, which aims to organize both a resistance movement and a mutual aid program.
Remember that even small actions can have significant effects when combined with others. As Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva, and Daniel Kelly argue in their new book, "Somebody Should Do Something," the power of collective action lies in its ability to create cascades of change. By joining forces with like-minded individuals, you can help bring about systemic social change.
While it's impossible to predict exactly when or how these changes will happen, there are encouraging signs that suggest a broader conversation is underway. For instance, Microsoft has announced plans to build "humanist superintelligence," which acknowledges the importance of human values in AI development.
Moreover, research suggests that mobilizing 3.5 percent of the population around your cause can be an effective strategy for achieving social change. With 50% of Americans expressing concerns about AI's impact on daily life and 73% supporting robust regulation, there is a growing recognition of the need for more thoughtful AI adoption.
So, don't feel alone in your concerns. Connect with others who share your values and together, push for a future where AI serves humanity - not just profit.
As an AI engineer, you're not alone in feeling like you're being pressured into adopting new technologies without adequate consideration for the potential consequences. But what if this "AI push" is not just a minor annoyance, but a symptom of a larger issue - one that requires collective action to address?
You've expressed concerns about the adoption of AI, particularly generative AI, in your workplace. Your worries are valid: who benefits from this technology, and at what cost? As you consider whether to speak out, remember that your individual voice may not be enough.
Instead, think about building a coalition with colleagues who share your concerns. Together, you can create a collective force that demands more thoughtful AI adoption in the workplace. This approach is supported by experts like Sarah Myers West, co-executive director of the AI Now Institute, who notes that unions have been successful in setting terms for AI use in various industries.
If unionization isn't an option at your workplace, consider joining organizations like the Algorithmic Justice League or Fight for the Future, which push for equitable and accountable tech. You can also participate in grassroots groups like Stop Gen AI, which aims to organize both a resistance movement and a mutual aid program.
Remember that even small actions can have significant effects when combined with others. As Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva, and Daniel Kelly argue in their new book, "Somebody Should Do Something," the power of collective action lies in its ability to create cascades of change. By joining forces with like-minded individuals, you can help bring about systemic social change.
While it's impossible to predict exactly when or how these changes will happen, there are encouraging signs that suggest a broader conversation is underway. For instance, Microsoft has announced plans to build "humanist superintelligence," which acknowledges the importance of human values in AI development.
Moreover, research suggests that mobilizing 3.5 percent of the population around your cause can be an effective strategy for achieving social change. With 50% of Americans expressing concerns about AI's impact on daily life and 73% supporting robust regulation, there is a growing recognition of the need for more thoughtful AI adoption.
So, don't feel alone in your concerns. Connect with others who share your values and together, push for a future where AI serves humanity - not just profit.
, like I work at a company and they're constantly trying to get us to use new AI tools but I don't know if it's good or bad... sometimes I feel like we're gonna take over the world with our fancy machines 
, but other times I think it could be really helpful. My friend's sister works in tech and she says there are a lot of jobs that will get automated because of AI so I'm kinda worried about my own future job security 
. But I've also seen some cool stuff that AI can do like make videos or create art, so maybe it's not all bad? 
its like they dont even care about the impact on humans lol my fave company is already tryin to get in on the act but i'm all like nope, not yet 
i mean think about it, if we all just chill and wait for microsoft to come out with this humanist superintelligence thing then we'll be stuck with a bunch of biased bots 
what can we do tho?? 
first off, unionize or join them orgs like algo justice league or stop gen ai...i heard they have some sick mutual aid programs 
and also just connect w/ ppl who feel the same way 
lets make some noise, i mean collective action is key 
my grandma uses it to make memes and she's not exactly tech-savvy... but does that mean the rest of us should be forced to use it too just because some engineers say so? 
, gotta have more discussion & research before it affects our jobs 4 real 
, & whats with all these big corps trying 2 push it thru w/o input from workers? 
. It's like, yeah, it's cool that we've got fancy new tools to automate tasks and whatnot, but have we stopped to think about who's actually benefiting from this tech? And what are the costs? 
. We need collective action 
! Building coalitions with colleagues who share our concerns and demanding change from our workplaces could be a huge step forward 
. Plus, there are some awesome organizations out there working towards AI accountability and equity, like Algorithmic Justice League and Stop Gen AI 
! Still, we need more of this kind of forward-thinking and less of the "just follow the money" attitude 
. With research showing that mobilizing 3.5% of the population around an issue can lead to real change, it's clear that we've got the numbers on our side 
3.5% of people can make a big difference 
gotta connect with others who feel the same way 
. I work in marketing and I've seen colleagues who are worried that AI will replace them, but no one's really talking about how to make this tech benefit everyone, not just companies 
. It can't just be about profit and growth - we need to think about the people affected by these changes 
.
. Like, if 50% of Americans are concerned about AI, that's already half the population on our side 
. Let's get vocal and push for a future where AI benefits humanity, not just profiteers 
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I'm low-key freaked out about how quickly we're moving into this whole AI stuff. Like, I get it, it's gonna change the game, but are we really thinking through the consequences? 
It feels like we're being pushed to adopt AI without any real consideration for the potential downsides. We should be unionizing or joining groups that push for more accountability in AI development 
. It's like, yes, AI is cool and all, but what about our well-being? What about our jobs? Who's going to protect us from being replaced by robots? 
. We need to start speaking up and demanding change. Not just in our companies, but globally 
.
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. It's about time we prioritize people over profit 
. Let's do this! 
.
how can we just ignore the potential risks of AI? 
Or, on the other hand, what if it solves all our problems and makes life easier? 
Like, wouldn't that be amazing? 
️. When we work together, even if it's just a small group of like-minded people, we can start to see some real shifts in how our industries approach AI development.
. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but for now, let's just say it's a lot to take in.