I’ve spent decades sifting through the dust of technological history, and a familiar rhythm keeps playing. Today, that rhythm is the conversation around Artificial Intelligence and its impact on jobs. It’s a story we’ve seen before, albeit with new players and faster speeds.
When we look at the current landscape, it’s easy to feel a sense of unease. Reports of mass layoffs attributed to AI implementation are becoming more common. My archival work has taught me that technological advancement has always led to shifts in the workforce. Think back to the Industrial Revolution. While it brought immense progress, it also displaced countless skilled artisans who were replaced by machines. The introduction of assembly lines, for instance, automated tasks that once required a great deal of human dexterity and time.
What strikes me as particularly poignant now is the concern that AI is disproportionately affecting entry-level positions. These are often the rungs on the career ladder where individuals gain essential skills and experience. If AI tools can perform these tasks more efficiently and at a lower cost, it raises questions about how new entrants will build their careers. In my archival research, I’ve uncovered documents detailing the anxieties surrounding early calculating machines. While these were a far cry from today’s AI, the fear of obsolescence for clerks and bookkeepers was palpable. The difference today seems to be the pace and breadth of the change.
The widening wealth gap is another consequence that resonates with historical patterns. When new technologies emerge, those who own, develop, or can effectively leverage them often see significant gains. Meanwhile, those whose skills are automated or devalued can struggle to adapt. This dynamic isn’t entirely new. Consider the transition from manual labor to mechanized farming; landowners who invested in new machinery saw increased productivity and profits, while many farm laborers found their livelihoods diminished.
Looking through old correspondence from the early days of computing, I often see a fervent optimism about how these machines would free humanity from tedious tasks. And they have, in many ways. But they also created new types of jobs, often requiring specialized knowledge, and also, unfortunately, made other roles redundant. The current wave of AI is no different in principle, but its potential to automate cognitive tasks, not just manual ones, presents a unique challenge. It’s a reminder that while innovation is a powerful engine for progress, its benefits are not always evenly distributed. Understanding these historical echoes can help us better navigate the present and prepare for the future.