Who Will You Be After ChatGPT Takes Your Job?
The emergence of large language models (LLMs) has brought a new wave of AI capabilities that are disrupting the job market. With GPT-4's release in March, OpenAI’s press release included a chart of its scores on various standardized tests, demonstrating its impressive capabilities. However, the availability of such advanced AI technologies raises concerns about the future of employment for many people. In this article, we will discuss the impact of LLMs on white-collar jobs and the potential emotional effects on individuals who may lose their jobs to AI.
White-Collar Jobs are Vulnerable
Studies have predicted that higher-paid jobs and creative jobs will be the most vulnerable to automation. These jobs include mathematicians, tax preparers, quants, writers, and web designers, among others, and are disproportionately done by the most privileged groups: men, white people, and Asian Americans, people in their prime working years, and people living in rich coastal cities. This suggests that the AI revolution will be a bumpy ride for many people, particularly those who have enjoyed the comfort of these jobs for a long time.
The Emotional Toll of Job Loss to AI
The relationship between blue-collar and white-collar workers with their work is distinct, and this difference is crucial in understanding how individuals will respond to AI-driven automation. According to studies, white-collar workers tend to feel that they “express” their “full potential” more at work than blue-collar workers do and experience higher levels of “developing inner self” at work. Task execution is essential for white-collar workers. Large pieces of their emotional lives and social selves are hooked into the tasks they do for work. However, what happens when AI does those tasks better?
When AI takes over the jobs that these workers have invested their talents and emotions into, the emotional impact can be devastating. Men, in particular, derive their self-worth from achievement and feeling useful. Their well-being is threatened when they are no longer considered useful, as studies have shown. Considering the emotional toll of job loss to AI is crucial in understanding the impact of LLMs on individuals, particularly on white-collar workers.
Lessons from the Go Game
A comparison with the game of Go, conquered by AI, may provide some illuminating lessons. Lee Sedol, a Korean prodigy and the second-best player in the world at the time, became depressed when DeepMind's AlphaGo beat him. He later retired from the game, citing AlphaGo as an entity that could not be defeated. In contrast, Fan Hui, the European champion, pivoted and joined DeepMind to improve its model's capabilities. Fan's lower ranking may have made him less vulnerable to an existential crisis that Lee experienced. These differences demonstrate that one's rank in their profession may determine the level of emotional impact caused by AI-driven automation.
Conclusion
As we face the LLM era, many individuals in white-collar jobs are wondering who they will be after ChatGPT takes their job. The impact of LLMs on employment and individuals will be profound. While the economy may ultimately grow, it is essential to understand and address the emotional toll on workers who may lose their jobs to AI.
