The Boss Has a Message: Use AI or You're Fired

[question everything]

(snip)

Rank-and-file employees across corporate America have grown worried over the past few years about being replaced by AI. Something else is happening now: AI is costing workers their jobs if their bosses believe they aren’t embracing the technology fast enough.

From professional-services firms to technology companies, employers are pushing their staffs to learn generative AI and integrate programs like ChatGPT, Gemini or customized company-specific tools into their work. They’re sometimes using sticks rather than carrots. Anyone deemed untrainable or seen as dragging their feet risks being weeded out of hiring processes, marked down in performance reviews or laid off.

Companies are putting their workers on notice about their AI skills amid a wave of white-collar job cuts. Amazon.com announced layoffs last week that affected roughly 14,000 jobs, while Target recently shed 1,800 corporate roles. International Business Machines has also disclosed thousands of cuts. Executives at Amazon and IBM have tied workforce cuts to the technology in statements this year.

Some companies are training people in how to use the tools—but leaving it up to them to figure out what to use them for. There are countless possibilities for how to deploy AI. Some businesses have required training classes or set up help desks to coach employees on how to incorporate AI into their work. Others are putting the onus on staff to think creatively about how to make money or save time with the tech. That can prompt exciting innovations—or it may come at the expense of getting work done. Or both.

(snip)

At workforces large and small, plenty of workers are hesitant to adopt AI, fearful that widespread adoption will innovate them out of a job. They also doubt the technology can do the job as well as they can. Many employees, even when exposed to AI tools that companies spend a lot on, aren’t biting. When researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reviewed more than 300 AI initiatives, they found only 5% were achieving quantifiable value. Employees flock to tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot for their ease of use, but don’t often adopt other software.

More..

https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-work-use-performance-reviews-1e8975df?st=EewSU5&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

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[ret5hd]

1. "Help us train your robotic replacement...

or you are fired. Oh, and there’s some Soylent Cake and BlueJoose in the break room…Jim in accounting died of stress yesterday.”

[Turbineguy]

2. It will innovate customers to leave too.

My recent 'chat' with an AI Genius did just that.

[2naSalit]

3. Is it time yet?

Time for a general strike?

[DBoon]

4. and how many are expected to learn AI on their off-hours and with their own money?

I experienced this a lot. Fortunately I retired.

[anciano]

5. Our work environment is rapidly evolving

due to the advent of AI technology. It is the new reality of the workplace. Acceptance and adaptation are not optional, they are essential.

[question everything]

6. I am glad that both of us are retired

[Skittles]

7. I hear that

very grateful indeed

[snot]

8. I'd really like to hear more detailed accounts from employees

who are experiencing this.

My own experiments with AI have tended to show that it's both ignorant and dishonest, trying to give the impression that it knows something while actually producing blather that's often substanceless, sometimes flat-out wrong, and never inspired. I personally can't imagine relying on it to replace anyone I'd actually want working for me.